"Mind possession?" said Taris, frowning. "I haven't heard of Tharnin employing that technique for sometime, outside of the slow possession that the Deep Shadow inflicts. The laws must have changed yet again. This does not bode well for the survival of Dremlock, if minds can be controlled in an instant."
"That's all I know," said Trenton. "I learned that from a survivor who escaped into other tunnels. He was missing an arm-torn off by an Ogre."
Thrake Wolfaxe cursed. "Those tunnels below our kingdom will be the doom of us. We should have permanently sealed all of them."
"And left no escape route in case of invasion?" said Trenton, his lip curled into a sneer. "You're none too clever, Red Knight."
"Our escape routes are too well known," said Thrake. "Too many dangers lurk below. Seldom is Dremlock attacked from outside its walls. Lately, all of the attacks come from beneath us."
"We can debate this later," said Taris. "Nothing can be done about it right now. Our first order of business is to take back the North Tower."
"This is unbelievable," said Trenton, "that a high-ranking and respected Knight like Garrin could betray us like this. It wasn't mind control. Garrin gave in to the desires and will of the Deep Shadow. He allowed it to happen!"
"Of course he did," said Jace. "I warned the High Council, but they chose to ignore me. I knew Garrin was a man of weak character-just the type to fall victim to the promises of Tharnin."
"But what does he want?" said Taris.
Trenton pointed at Lannon, his eyes gleaming with what looked like malice. Trenton didn't seem to like Lannon. "He wants this Squire. He told us that if Lannon returns alive, to send him to the North Tower."
"No more duels," said Taris, shaking his head.
"He doesn't want a duel," said Shennen. "He claims he simply wants to meet with Lannon and give him a message. I'm thinking there will be an assassination attempt on the Squire, however."
"Why not storm the tower?" said Thrake, his voice quivering with rage. "With all the Knights gathered here, surely the Goblins would fall quickly. Our Lord Knight would prefer to die in battle rather than be killed as a hostage."
"If we storm the tower," said Trenton, "Garrin has promised to kill the High Council members. As the highest ranked Knight present, I have ordered our fighters to hold off. Of course, I now defer authority to Taris."
"You did well, Trenton," said Taris. "We cannot risk the lives of the High Council members. Lannon shall meet with Garrin alone."
"That's seems like folly," said Thrake, scowling. "Sending the Squire in by himself-into an obvious trap?"
"Yes," Taris mumbled, "but it shall be done."
Trenton glowered at Taris. "I find that to be a rather strange plan, Tower Master. Are you sure you're thinking clearly on this matter?"
Taris glowered back. "Are you questioning my judgment?" He touched his scarred cheek. "You think the Deep Shadow is working its will through me. Is that correct, Investigator?"
"Perhaps," said Trenton. "You bear some kind of infection of dark sorcery. As the Investigator of Dremlock, I could declare you temporarily unfit to command. I find this order very strange indeed!"
"I agree with Taris," said Jace. "We should send Lannon in alone. Except that he will not be alone. Isn't that right, Taris?"
Taris sat stoically for a moment, and then nodded. "There is a spy in the North Tower who likely remains undetected. I can say no more. If things go badly for Lannon, rest assured we will be alerted. Then we will attack."
"Tell me more about this spy," insisted Trenton. "Why was I never informed of this? Is it a Knight, or some type of creature?"
"Only Tower Masters know of this," said Taris. "And Jace too, apparently, though I have no idea how he acquired that knowledge. We have no time to debate this. Lannon, enter the North Tower!"
Trembling, Lannon dismounted. His friends all looked quite unhappy as they gazed down at him from horseback-especially Vorden. Lannon nodded to them reassuringly, but his throat was dry with fear at the thought that, in spite of all these Knights, he was being forced to confront Garrin and his Goblins alone. It seemed utterly pointless. However, the determined look in Taris' eyes told him that arguing would be equally pointless.
Lannon made his way through the gathering of Knights to the keep's front door. The massive North Tower loomed over him in the moonlight, suddenly very sinister in appearance. It seemed like a dark lair of death, where his foes waited to close around him and cut him off from all hope.
Two Knights started forward to help with the huge door, but Lannon motioned them to stay away, fearing for the hostages inside. He tried seizing the door with the Eye of Divinity, but he couldn't seem to connect. Something about the design of the door resisted his efforts. For a moment, his fear of using the Eye overwhelmed him and his power almost failed completely, but he forced himself to regain his focus, remembering what was at stake.
Feeling embarrassed for having refused the Knights' offers to help, Lannon grabbed the door handle with his hands, pulling with all his might. The door wouldn't budge. He channeled the Eye into his muscles in an effort to generate the power necessary for the task. It was a strange way to use the Eye, but slowly the door opened, and Lannon stepped inside.
Dremlock Hall was filled with Goblins-mostly Jackals, but there were two Goblin Lords and an Ogre as well. Chairs and tables were overturned, and Goblins were devouring meat and bread. The Ogre was gnawing on a side of raw beef, his huge teeth crunching through bone. His huge head, with black eyes, lifted when Lannon walked into the room. He stood up and started toward the Squire, the claws from his long, crooked arms dragging on the stone floor.
But the Goblin Lords stepped in front of the Ogre-more Priests of Tharnin carrying dark staffs. They regarded Lannon with what appeared to be amused looks. Lannon was sickened by the sights in Dremlock Hall. The Goblins had gotten into everything, with no regard for the priceless treasures of the North Tower. Ancient paintings of famous Knights had been torn from the walls and damaged. The Sacred Water of Dremlock-water blessed by the Divine Essence and stored in crystal flasks for rituals-had been pulled from shelves on the walls and scattered across the floor. One of the Jackals was lapping some of it up with his long tongue.
The Goblin Lords pointed at the stairs that led up through the tower. "Go to the fifth floor," one of them hissed. "Garrin waits for you there, in his chamber. He will provide you with further instructions."
Lannon started up the stairs, and the priests followed. Lannon probed behind him with the Eye of Divinity, making sure they didn't attack. But he sensed no such intent. They simply plodded along in their soft leather boots up the stone steps, until the trio reached the fifth floor and the Lord Knight's chamber, the entrance to which was a large oaken door at the end of a hall.
Lannon felt a surge of anger that Garrin had decided to make Cordus Landsaver's chamber his own, and it dulled his fear a bit. He probed the door for traps, and finding none, entered the room
Garrin sat on a large bed with a wooden frame carved with Birlote runes. He was smoking a pipe. A flask of wine sat on a stand next to him. The large bedchamber was bathed in lantern light, revealing two statues of Knights that stood on either side of a large, shuttered window, and more paintings.
"Close the door, Lannon," Garrin said. "You have nothing to fear. I'm alone in here and just want to talk to you and offer you some wine."
Lannon did as instructed. Then he walked to the bed and stood before his former master. "Why have you done this, Garrin?"