Amethyst of the Gods Read online

  "All right," sighed King Arik. "What is your plan for the attack?"

  "The first thing we need to do is to isolate them without warning them that we know where they are," responded Alex. "Prince Garong, can you spare a dozen elven archers?"

  "I will make sure that the archers are available," nodded the elven prince.

  "Good," Alex continued. "I want them to set up a perimeter outside the estate. Not close enough to be seen, but close enough to ensure the death of any who try to escape. The deaths must go unnoticed by anyone in the estate."

  "I will see to it," promised Prince Garong.

  "We can lead you through the sewers," offered Bin-lu as he and Wylan entered the room.

  "I am counting on that," responded Alex. "I think the four of us will have the task of eliminating the Ravens inside the estate."

  "Four of you?" questioned Prince Darok. "You had better include me in your numbers. I go wherever Garala goes."

  "And the same goes for me," asserted Prince Garong. "Valon will not be left alone until this matter is done."

  "I may not be the man I used to be," grinned Zackary, "but I can still travel stealthily and cut heads off of Black Devils."

  "All right," conceded Alex, "but no more volunteers. The more people we have entering the estate, the more likely it is that we will be discovered before we have completed our task."

  "Fairies are not volunteers," declared Prince Midge. "We are part of the Bringer. Besides, you will need some of the enemy put to sleep. We will not be detected."

  "A good idea," mused King Arik. "The fairies may actually save our lives. Chopping heads off of the Black Devils is not likely to be a silent operation."

  "It must be silent," countered Alex. "We will use myric quills to kill the enemy. Make sure your swords are sharp. We do not want any revenants to surprise us."

  "How is the battle at the walls going?" asked Wylan.

  "Not too well," frowned Prince Darok. "We have forfeited the defensive wall. We have thrown open the gates to Sarac's forces."

  "Thrown open the gates?" questioned Bin-lu. "Why make it easy for them?"

  "Because the open gates can be closed again," answered Prince Garong. "Let them come in without destroying our walls. If we can use the gates to trap the enemy, why not do so?"

  "Who is leading the detachment of Rangers that are trapped behind the enemy lines?" asked Alex with concern.

  "Sergeant Randi Witzak," replied Prince Darok. "I fear that they will all be lost."

  "Never write off a Ranger," countered Alex while trying to sound optimistic. "Randi is a good man. We need to prepare for our trip through the sewers," he continued as he turned his attention to the task of eliminating the Ravens. "While we may not attack until dark, we must be in the sewers and prepared to attack as soon as possible. We cannot leave that exit open for them to use."

  * * *

  "Harod, Fargo," Sergeant Witzak called softly as he watched the ogres tromping through the forest in search of his men.

  "Aye," answered Stan Fargo as he and Harod approached their leader.

  "We are going to split our detachment into thirds," Randi explained. "Harod, you will lead your group slightly to the east. Fargo, you go to the west. I will take the center group and retreat quickly and noisily. I want your two flanks to retreat slowly and silently. When we have the enemy pulled into the horseshoe, we are going to ignite the forest with fire glue. Once the fire has taken hold, get your men away as quickly as you can."

  "Aye, Sergeant," nodded Harod. "Where do we meet up?"

  "A league north of here," answered Randi. "There is an old trail that runs from the road to the sea. A thousand paces east of the road is a large clearing. Wait in the woods just north of that clearing so you can see who is coming towards you. If all goes well, we will meet you there."

  The two Rangers nodded and slipped off to form their groups. Randi watched nervously as the bulk of the Rangers faded into the forest. The hundred men left behind with the sergeant were to be the bait for the ogres and goblins. Randi hoped that he had the sense of timing that would be needed to save his men from extinction.

  * * *

  The two Cordonian soldiers stood across the street from the Gateway Inn. They watched with interest as elves entered and exited the building.

  "Why are there only elves using this inn?" questioned Klarg. "I would think that the humans would have more use for such an establishment."

  "Because the Gateway Inn is not being used as an inn," remarked Calastano. "I suspect it is being used as an infirmary. We are seeing elves coming and going because they are the best healers."

  Klarg's eyes scanned left and right as he watched soldiers going about their business. "There are no guards," he commented. "Even if it is an infirmary, I doubt the likes of Jenneva would be in there without guards standing by."

  "Look around," retorted the Black Devil. "Do you see any idle men? Already the Alceans have lost their outer wall. They do not have the men to waste on guarding an infirmary. Besides, I really think Jenneva is dead. We must enter the inn just to see her dead body. Then I will be satisfied, and we can seek out this boy king."

  "Well," shrugged Klarg as he adjusted his Cordonian uniform, "let's get this over with. I will feel better with the rest of the Ravens around us."

  "Some tasks are better suited to only a couple of men," replied the Black Devil. "This is one of them. We will rejoin the group soon enough."

  The two Ravens walked across the street and stepped into the common room of the Gateway Inn. They stopped and stared at the scene before them. Two large tables were in the center of the common room. Jenneva and Tanya occupied the two tables while a dozen elves surrounded each table. There were four unicorns in the room and Calastano stared at them curiously. The unicorns had their horns lowered towards the patients and appeared to be giving some type of magical aid to the elven healers. A young human woman looked up as they entered the room. She shook her head as if she had just awoken. Her lips moved silently as she let out a held breath. As if alerted to danger, the white unicorn tilted its head and stared at the newcomers.

  "I should have put up a sign saying that the inn was closed," frowned Sheri as she started to walk towards the door. "I am afraid you men will have to leave. This inn has become a place of healing."

  Klarg sneered at the young woman. He reached out to grab her as she tried to walk by him to the door. His sneer turned quickly to a pained look of surprise. A cry passed his lips as he looked down and saw a short sword protruding from his ribs. The young woman glared at him through clenched teeth as she twisted the blade of the short sword. As Klarg's vision began to blur, he saw Calastano's arm swing upward and point towards Jenneva.

  The Black Devil's fireball exploded on an invisible shield that surrounded Jenneva. Kaz whinnied in pain as the second fireball smashed into his shield. Suddenly, a white blur streaked across the room. Before Calastano could recognize the danger, Yorra's spiral horn pierced his stomach and ripped upward. The Black Devil screamed and collapsed to the floor.

  Revenant! warned Kaz.

  Yorra snorted as her sharp horn lashed out at the neck of the fallen Black Devil. She spun around swiftly and kicked hard with her rear legs. Her hooves connected with Calastano's head, sending it flying into the far wall of the common room.

  "How did you know?" Zalaharic asked Sheri as he continued to work on Tanya.

  "I saw his picture," Sheri shivered from the excitement. "There are people that I know who are looking throughout the city right now for this man. His name is Klarg, and he is the enemy."

  "And one who never learned to appreciate the effect of a short sword," nodded the elven healer. "I wish saving either one of these mages was so straightforward."

  "Is it really that hopeless?" asked Sheri.

  "It is not totally hopeless," sighed Zalaharic, "although it should be. The fall should have killed them both, but it didn't. The stones falling atop them certainly should have finished the dasta
rdly deed, but it also did not. Still, nothing that we have tried has had any effect on either one of them."

  "They both had the sense to erect shields as they were falling," interjected one of the elven healers. "You can still detect the glow if you look closely."

  Zalaharic's eyes rose curiously. "Right you are," he nodded. "Why did I not notice that before?"

  "I only noticed it when the unicorns erected their shields moments ago," the elf healer replied. "I suspect the interaction of both shields caused the glow. Perhaps their shields were so faint because of the forces they absorbed during the fall."

  "But that may be the answer as to why our magic is failing to heal them," Zalaharic said excitedly. "We need to get through the remnants of their shields without hurting them. How can we do that?"

  The assembled elves shook their heads. The only known way to lower someone else's shield was to exhaust it by constant bombardment. That attack could very well kill the human mages at the moment their shields failed.

  "Well," frowned Zalaharic, "we know more than we did a little while ago, but we are no closer to healing them. Any spell strong enough to penetrate their shields is strong enough to harm them."

  Yorra walked slowly across the room, blood dripping from her spiral horn. She walked close to Jenneva, crowding out the surrounding elves who were forced to give way to the unicorn. Yorra lowered her head until it gently touched Jenneva's brow. A soft purring sound emanated from the unicorn as the elves stared in wonder. Suddenly, Frea whinnied and approached Tanya's still form. As Frea mimicked Yorra, the elves backed away.

  "What are they doing?" asked Sheri.

  "I do not know," admitted Zalaharic. "I tried asking them, but they will not respond to me. I have never seen anything like it."

  Kaz and Chaco took up defensive positions around Jenneva and Tanya. They forced the elven healers farther away from the human mages. Suddenly, Yorra snorted with glee. Her head rose high and her eyes shone brightly. Frea mimicked Yorra minutes later.

  There is a magic stronger than what you have tried, Yorra mind spoke. It is the magic of love. Our humans instinctively know that we would never harm them. We were able to make them feel safe and secure. They have lowered their own shields now. You may proceed to heal them.

  "Amazing," remarked Zalaharic as Kaz and Chaco moved away and allowed the elven healers to approach the patients once again. "There is still much we need to learn about unicorn magic."

  * * *

  The small group stood in the dark in a small chamber of the Tagaret sewers. Alex patted his small quiver of myric quills reassuringly.

  "Prince Garong," Alex said softly, "you will take the outside grounds with Colonel Nolan. They are unlikely to use Black Devils outside as guards, but decapitate them if you are in doubt."

  "No alarm will be issued by the outside guards," assured the elf prince as he and Colonel Nolan quietly pushed aside the sewer cover on the grounds of the Everich estate.

  The two figures swiftly disappeared into the darkness of the night. Bin-lu hefted a coil of rope off the ground and slung it over his shoulder.

  "Give me to a count of three hundred," Bin-lu said. "Then head straight for the rear of the mansion. I will have the rope in place."

  Alex nodded silently as the Lanoirian slipped out of the sewer and disappeared. Each of the other members of the team started tapping their fingers rhythmically.

  "Speed and silence will see us through this night," reminded Alex. "Leave the decapitations to Prince Darok and King Arik if it is possible. Their weapons will create the least amount of noise."

  Nobody spoke as they all counted the numbers in their minds. As the count of three hundred approached, Alex pulled himself out of the sewer. The others followed closely behind him. Alex's eyes scanned the dark estate as he raced towards the mansion. He could not see anyone.

  As the group reached the building, Alex grabbed the free end of the rope and began climbing upward. At the top of the rope, Alex slipped through the window and took immediate note of his surroundings. Bin-lu stood near the door to the hallway. Four dead men occupied the bunks in the room. None of them were decapitated. Alex frowned and pointed to the dead men as King Arik slid into the room from the window.

  "Dark Riders and Black Devils would never share a room," Bin-lu explained softly as Wylan entered behind the king. "They do not care for each other. These men are obviously warriors."

  Prince Darok entered the room and frowned at the bodies. He stepped to the closest bunk and grabbed the body by the hair on its head. His sharp axe slid silently through the man's neck, and he moved on to the next body. Bin-lu started to object, but Alex shook his head.

  "The dwarf is silent enough," whispered Alex. "Let him do his task. I would rather be sure that we have them all. You take the king and Wylan with you. I will take the dwarf. We will wait for each other before going down to the next level."

  Bin-lu nodded and eased the door open. He stepped into the hallway and led his group to the left. Alex nodded to Prince Darok and then led the way to the right. Prince Midge and his fairy band headed straight for the staircase leading to the lower levels.

  Alex eased open the door to the next room, a loaded reed ready at his lips. His eyes instantly assessed the situation as a myric quill flew from the reed into the farthest sleeping body. He did not bother to reload the reed. He seized three more myric quills and stepped to the closest bunks. He jabbed a quill into each body and shoved the third quill into the reed and sent it flying across the room into the fourth body. Prince Darok moved in quickly and began decapitating the dead bodies. Alex stood silently at the door to the hallway while the dwarf finished his grisly work.

  As Alex waited for Prince Darok, the door across the hall opened. Alex brought the reed to his lips as a Dark Rider stepped into the hallway. He let fly his myric quill just as the enemy realized that an intruder was present. The Dark Rider's open mouth never had a chance to issue a cry of alarm. His body seemed to freeze for a second before it began to topple to the floor. Alex stepped forward swiftly and grabbed the man's body before it noisily crashed to the floor. Prince Darok exited the room and grabbed the body by its hair while Alex moved to the open doorway leading to the room the enemy had just exited.

  Three sleeping forms were in the room. Alex filled the sleeping forms with myric quills as Prince Darok carried the dead body into the room and placed him on the empty bunk.

  "That was too close," whispered the dwarf.

  "It was close," nodded Alex, "but not too close. We are only finding warriors on this level. The real danger will be with the Black Devils."

  Two rooms later, Alex and Prince Darok met the other group at the top of the stairs.

  "Twenty warriors, not counting the first room," Bin-lu quietly announced.

  "That makes forty total," frowned Alex. "I suspect the next floor will contain the mages. We must be careful."

  Bin-lu nodded and led the way down the stairs. Prince Darok and King Arik left a trail of blood from their weapons as they descended the stairs. As the group reached the next floor down, Prince Midge landed on King Arik's shoulder.

  "This floor is all mages," reported the fairy prince. "They are all asleep, but one room has an empty bunk. I do not know where that mage has gone. My people have already descended to the ground floor to search for others."

  King Arik nodded silently as the fairy prince launched himself into the air and soared down the stairs to the ground floor. Once again the group split in two with Bin-lu leading to the left and Alex to the right.

  The fourth room that Alex and Prince Darok entered had only three mages in it. Alex hesitated only a second before sending a myric quill into the mage farthest from the door. He jabbed the other two Black Devils with quills while the dwarf prince started removing their heads. Alex sighed from the stress as they exited the room and headed for the last room on the floor. He frowned when he eased the door open and saw that only three bunks were occupied. Movement out of the corner o
f his eye alerted Alex to the Black Devil in the corner of the room using the chamber pot. Alex threw his body backward, slamming into the dwarf prince who had been following him. They tumbled into the hallway just as a fiery orb impacted the door to the room.

  Alex dropped his reed and quills and swiftly drew his sword as he scrambled to his feet. Shouts of alarm pierced the air. Prince Darok rose and started towards the doorway, but Alex waved him back towards the staircase. Bin-lu stepped into the hallway from the last room his group had checked.

  "How many?" he called to Alex.

  "Four," Alex replied as fireballs streamed into the hallway in search of a target.

  Alex stooped low just outside the door to the room. King Arik and Wylan emerged farther down the hall and nocked arrows to their bows. In a sudden rush, the four Black Devils surged into the hallway. Fireballs flew in each direction as the evil mages emerged from their room. Alex shoved his sword upward into one of the Black Devils. Arrows from King Arik and Wylan struck two more of the Ravens, while Prince Darok tossed a throwing axe into the last one.

  "They should have used physical shields," Alex shook his head as he decapitated one of the men.

  King Arik and Prince Darok rushed forward to decapitate the bodies before the revenants could arise.

  "I suspect that the rest of the Ravens will be awake now," frowned the king.

  "No doubt," nodded Alex, "but they will be warriors. There is only one mage unaccounted for. Ready bows for the assault on the ground level."

  As the Alcea Knights prepared to storm the lower floor, Prince Midge flew up the stairs.

  "There are twelve downstairs sleeping," the fairy prince reported.

  "Are there any that are awake?" asked King Arik.

  "Not any more. There may be some outside the building," replied Prince Midge. "There are two fairies guarding each man downstairs. Hurry down and kill them."

  King Arik looked to Alex for confirmation, and Alex nodded. The Alcea knights raced down the stairs and soon eliminated Sarac's Ravens.