“He is not here!” Ronan yelled back, rubbing at the side of his head where Diato had made his strike. “I tell you he is locked away somewhere and is being starved to death!”
“How would you know he was starving unless you had seen him?” Diato didn’t move from the ground and neither did the blacksmith.
“I have seen him in my dreams and I would know he is starving to death because that is how my mother died!” Ronan pushed himself up from the ground. Then reached down and swiped up the sword.
Diato knew Robusk’s voice, probably better than anyone. “If what you say is true why do I hear him speaking to me now?”
Ronan blinked, then turned to look at Ahearn. Diato could hear Ahearn’s thoughts? And thought it was Robusk’s voice that communicated to him? Ronan shook his head.
“The wizard Robusk is using Ahearn to communicate with me,” Ronan said aloud.
Keegan blew out a breath. “For that I am thankful. I was beginning to wonder what kind of damned horses I was raising.”
“This is some kind of trick and one that will have you facing a prison sentence.” Diato spat but he was ignored.
“Merisgale is only a day’s ride away. You can make it there before dusk if you head out now.” Bryan gave one of the guards a soft kick when he started to rise. “Unless you want to end up like your friends, I’d suggest you stay put.” The guard immediately dropped back down.
“What of the guards?” Keegan shook his head. “If we release them, that one may try to stop us again.”
“Leave them here with me,” Bryan suggested. “You all go on. I’ll keep them here.”
Ronan glanced at the centaur, then his eyes dropped to Ula. She gave him a quick nod.
“Alright.” Ronan grabbed Diato by the back of his collar and hauled him roughly to his feet. Diato was clearly not expecting the punch to his face. Ronan hesitated and then hit him again before he could shake himself from the first blow.
“Come near her again and I will kill you.” Ronan warned and released him roughly next to the other two guards who knelt shaking with fear. Ronan turned to Arien who’d hefted Fiona across his horse. She wasn’t moving but he could see the slight rise and fall of her breast. She lived.
“Take them to Johran if I don’t return soon,” Ronan told Bryan who nodded.
“Let’s go,” Ronan called and swung onto Sorcha’s back. “We have no time to waste if we are going to find Robusk and stop Thestian.” He kicked his horse forward, leaving Bryan, Diato and two very scared looking guards behind.
Merisgale rose from the horizon like a giant of grey stone. Ronan swallowed loudly when he saw it. It was massive. The castle stood like a tower to the Gods, surrounded by a wall that made even the dragon Montecu look small.
Ronan glanced behind them. The dragon had not traveled with them but Ronan knew he was there, just beyond sight. He’d felt him during the entire rescue and afterward when they traveled across the moors.
“How is Fiona?” Ronan glanced over at Arien.
“The same. No better but no worse either,” the boy answered.
“She won’t die,” Ula reassured Ronan and he sent her a small smile. “I swear it to you.”
“When we get inside, Arien, you take Fiona somewhere safe where Ula can tend to her.” Ronan commanded and though both the apprentice and sorceress looked as if neither liked his decision, neither argued.
“Keegan, you will stay with me?” Ronan looked at the horseman, thankful when he nodded.
“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Arien said suddenly and pointed to the gates of Merisgale. Ahead Thestian stood, waiting for them.
“Dragon’s blood,” Ronan cursed then glanced behind him. “Sorry, Monty.” Keegan rode alongside Ronan’s right side.
“Give me the sword,” Ronan barely heard Keegan’s words.
“What?”
“Give it to me and take this one.” For a moment Ronan didn’t move. Could he trust that Keegan was not the one who betrayed him? Sensing his hesitation, the horseman turned and met his gaze.
“If I were the one I would have killed you the moment I met you,” He murmured. “Now give it to me before it’s too late.”
“Ronan Culley,” Thestian called in greeting and lifted a hand in a half wave as Ronan rode ahead of the others.
“Wizard Thestian.” Ronan dismounted and bowed low as if the wizard was already king.
“You have not failed me.” Thestian spoke after Ronan rose to his feet again. “Come. You must be weary.”
“I am but I have much more to do before I can rest.” Ronan met Thestian’s gaze. “Where is King Robusk?”
Thestian’s face saddened. “He is missing.”
“Where is he?” Ronan repeated and for a moment Thestian only stared at him.
Slowly a smile slid across his fair face. He shook a finger at Ronan. “You are a clever man to be a blacksmith.” Thestian clicked his tongue. “Almost too clever.”
“He is the Stone Wizard Ronan of Johran,” Arien corrected from his horse. Ronan did not look but could hear Arien scrambling down from Ahearn’s back.
“Stay back, Arien,” Ronan commanded.
“Yes, I had heard that you joined the Johran tribe to acquire safe passage through the hills.” Thestian crossed his arms. “And you even struck a deal with the Dragols. What now, blacksmith?”
“Where is Robusk?” Ronan repeated.
“Soon he will be in the Great Sea of Death. Perhaps you’d like to meet him there?” Thestian’s eyes glittered. “The game is over. Give me my sword.”
Thestian clicked his tongue. “Robusk, that was a very weak attempt. Save your energy old man. It is over.”
Ronan drew the sword from his sheath and held it out threateningly. “Yes, it is over. Where is he?”
Thestian laughed maniacally. “You are going to use the fake sword on me?” Ronan frowned and looked back at Keegan.
“The sword.”
Keegan tossed it in the air and Ronan caught it. He faced Thestian again. Slowly SleaganSleagan smiled and pulled open his shirt, exposing his pale chest.
“Do it, blacksmith. The result is the same either way.”
Ronan didn’t blink. “Robusk, what wizard do you name as the next King of Merisgale before you die?”
“Ula,” Ronan called but she didn’t answer. “Ula.” Still she was silent. Ronan did not want to take his eyes off of Thestian so he glanced to his left. His heart stopped.
“No.” Ronan felt tears brim in his eyes. “No, not you. It can’t be you.”
“Of course it is me. Did you think SleaganSleagan would have gone to so much trouble to be named and not send someone to stop you in case you caught on to what he was doing?”
Ronan’s eyes dropped to the dagger, Diato’s dagger, pressed to Ula’s throat. “I am no fool. You may have feelings for the Serpentine but it is this one you are willing to die for.”
“I…I trusted you.” Emotion welled in Ronan’s chest as Keegan started to circle around.
“Because you are a foolish man. Tell that killer to stay back or I will slit her throat.” The blade pressed firmly and tears welled in Ula’s eyes. She wasn’t using her magic to save herself, Ronan realized. She couldn’t. Not against Arien.
“I’m warning you.” Ronan said.
