“Your Highness,” Cresson said, indicating that he would like to speak. Dreen’s Castle Mage smoothed his black robes nervously, waiting for Mikahl to respond.
“Cresson, it isn’t necessary to ask me permission to speak when we are in private counsel,” Mikahl laughed good-naturedly. “As a matter of fact, when we are not in the throne room, or formal court, you are hereby commanded to speak your mind to me, without asking permission to do so. Your respect is appreciated, but you would not be here if your opinions weren’t wanted.”
“Thank you, Highness,” Cresson said. He stood as he continued speaking. “The idea that some hundred souls are trapped under the sea is disturbing to me. The fact is that they will live as undead beings for eternity, or until their skulls are separated from their spines, or your blade draws in their souls and sends them where the gods will. The same goes for the men whom Pael spelled that still live. They will never truly die. This could turn into a serious problem at some point. There’s a spell, though, that the late Master Targon taught me a few years ago when I studied under him in Xwarda. The spell would reveal to me if a person was under this type of necromancy.” He paused, wrapped his hand around his long black goatee and stroked it slowly. “I think that if we can identify those men who were spelled by Pael while they still truly live, then we can counter their individual curses somehow. Master Sholt surely knows these spells as well.”
“What are you going to do, Cresson,” General Escott asked, “walk around the realm casting a spell on folks as you pass? Those men could be scattered about anywhere.”
“The two men in Southport would know some of the others who were on the ships,” Lord Gregory interjected. “From there we could start compiling a list.”
“Aye,” Mikahl said. “Lady Able has a firm grasp on things in Westland. I think General- I mean Lord Spyra, might be able to handle this sort of thing.”
“Agreed,” Lord Gregory nodded. “Spyra could use the distraction, I’m certain. The loss of his wife left him empty.”
“Aye.” Mikahl nodded. He was pleased to have Lord Gregory’s input. It was always sound.
“Excuse me, Your Highness,” Cresson said with a strange expression coming over his face as he hurried out of the chamber.
“Strange one, he is,” General Escott said after the door closed behind the mage. “I don’t much like the idea of magic, or those who study it. It’s unnerving, especially in battle.”
“He’s all right,” Mikahl said. “You should’ve met the castle wizard we had to put up with.” He shared a look with Lord Gregory.
“What was his name?”
“It was Pael,” Lord Gregory said with a halfhearted chuckle. “I’m sure most people think you’re a little strange as well, General.” He grinned and slapped Escott on the shoulder. “What with that tattoo-covered head and all.”
The general’s eyes narrowed and his face bunched up into a scowl. “It’s an Ultura tradition to be inked with your Spirit Chivon once you pass your rite of passage.”
“Aye, but on your head?” King Mikahl cringed at the idea of it. Loudin had been inked as well, but in those days Mikahl lacked the confidence to ask about more than a man such as Loudin offered. “Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It’s more than my head-”
The general’s answer was cut off by Cresson returning. The mage looked distraught as he hurried to get himself standing before King Mikahl.
“Your Highness,” he began. “Master Wizard Sholt has relayed a message. It originates from Prince Raspaar of Salaya. The monks have come under attack by dark winged creatures. These things were described as hellspawned beasts and baby dragons. I assume them to be wyvern due to that description, and the description of the wounds they found on the deceased. One of the dying monks told the prince that evil was brewing in the south. The minds there that Master Sholt trusts agreed that he had to mean from the Isle of Borina. It’s the only land south of Salaya.”
“Borina,” Lord Gregory said. “That’s where the red priests are from.”
“Maybe they have the staff you’re after,” General Escott suggested.
“I saw a priest fleeing Westland in the sky, on that black wyrm, not long after I killed the bitch.” Mikahl put his face in his hands and growled. “I should have known he’d taken the staff as soon as Sholt told me it wasn’t anywhere at Lakeside.”
“The Salayans are asking for your aid in taking military action against Borina.” Cresson continued. “The creatures destroyed most of something called the Grove. Sholt didn’t know what that was, but he said Salaya’s only mage was a novice at best, and wasn’t worth questioning.”
“Yes,” Mikahl looked at Lord Gregory for confirmation.
The Lion Lord nodded in the affirmative. The look on his face was anything but kind.
“Make a sending to Sholt,” Mikahl commanded hotly. “Explain to him I am personally going to Salaya to attend to this matter. If he is able, have the prince ready his forces to sail this night, if it is possible. Ask them to meet me on Borina. Tell Sholt of your idea to identify those that Pael put under his spell, as well.”
As soon as Cresson left to do as he was bidden, Mikahl ordered General Escott to send Commander Lyle and two dozen men to pick up the fisherman who was displaying the skeletons he’d caught in his nets. Only after the general was gone, and he was alone with Lord Gregory, did he speak of Hyden’s dire warning about the staff.
“I have to destroy it,” Mikahl said. “Hyden said it could be used to open another gateway.”
“I’ll keep the search for Phen and Master Oarly going while you’re away, Mik,” Lord Gregory said. “The two of them will turn up soon, I’m sure of it.”
“Aye.” Mikahl smiled through his anger. “It’s not like Phen can hide himself very well.”
“He still got that ring,” Lord Gregory reminded him. “But don’t worry, I’ll find them. You see to the other problem, and see what you can do for the fairy trees. Lady Trella would die if she knew they were harmed.”
“Aye.” Mikahl understood. He remembered the brief bit of romance the Lion Lord and Lady Trella had shared atop the mountain that sheltered the grove.
Mikahl didn’t waste any time. He pulled on a shirt of gleaming chain mail and made his way up through the castle to the sitting room where his wife, Queen Rosa, and Lady Trella, along with half a dozen ladies and little girls congregated daily. He knocked politely, and then strode into the room. Lady Trella scowled at him for not waiting for a response, but when he told Queen Rosa that he was leaving for a few days, Lady Trella let the look slip from her face.
After a long, passionate kiss that caused even the littlest of the girls to gasp and stare dreamily, he strode out onto the balcony, drew his sword, Ironspike, and let it fill him. He took a deep breath as the great symphony of its magic came rushing into his head. He found the melody for the bright horse and called it forth. All at once a brilliant flaming pegasus appeared beside him. With only a glance behind at the wide-eyed faces of the women, he climbed onto its back and held on as it leapt into the air.
Within minutes the Red City was far below and behind him. He felt exhilarated and anxious for battle as he went streaking southward toward.
Prince Raspaar of Salaya was the king of the island in every aspect save title. His father had turned over all aspects of governing the kingdom after the prince had cleverly made them wealthy beyond imagining. When King Glendar marched his army out of Westland to attack the east, nearly every able horse of the kingdom was commandeered and brought with them. Weeks later, when the Dragon Queen and her lizard-man army crawled out of the marshlands and took Westland for their own, she had the only land bridge to the east destroyed. The men and women left in Westland still had fields to plow, and carriages to pull, and a hundred other reasons to need horses. The prince began shipping Valleyan horses to Westland. He made a fortune for his little kingdom, and in the process he set up offices there. His people spied on the Dragon Queen for Mikahl and ultimately one of his ships carried Hyden Hawk and the High King into the land secretly so they could rescue Princess Rosa. It was during that rescue that the High King killed the Dragon Queen. Prince Raspaar and King Mikahl were not close by any means, but they trusted each other. The Prince was sure that his summons for aid in the matter of the Borinian demons would be answered. So sure, that he sent a pair of ships carrying half of his small army to the Island of Borina before he even received the High King’s response.
By the time King Mikahl arrived, more than forty Salayan soldiers and a dozen red-robed priests had been killed. Several of the acolytes and novices confirmed this. Worse was that the high priest had gotten away with the
