Quest for the Sundered Crown (The Sundered Crown Saga Book 3) Page 9

  “I spotted half a dozen Retbit scouts at the edge of the forest. Do you see them?” Kaiden asked quietly. Other men crawled on their bellies through the undergrowth, swords drawn.

  “Aye, I see the bastards alright,” Thrift replied. “Retbit scouts so far north already? We haven’t even had a chance to send the word out that Sumil is back in business yet. If a large force is lurking beyond the forest, we won’t stand a chance.”

  With a twist of the spyglasses handle he was able to zoom in closer. A group of riders wearing surcoats emblazoned with the red bird of Retbit were milling at the edge of the forest.

  “Perhaps they got lost?” said Grig. The old man looked out of place carrying a sword in his hands. Kaiden had grown accustomed to him being a healer.

  Is this what I’m doing? He wondered. Turning men who know nothing of war into soldiers? Is this moral?

  It had been a huge gamble returning to Sumil, but the Fleetfoots had voted unanimously to get the priory back up and running. Grig and a few of the scribes had penned flyers that had been taken across the realm, telling the world that the Knights of Niveren were returning. To Kaiden’s surprise, it had only taken a few days before the first volunteers had begun to arrive. Most of them had been peasants or farmers, but a few were those who had previously served the order before its disbandment after Eclin. Now, Kaiden was in command of a hundred men, albeit only a handful that were truly skilled fighters.

  He turned his attention back to the matter at hand. “Perhaps Accadus has grown overconfident. He must know that the east is relatively undefended.”

  Thrift snorted.

  “Even that little shit wouldn’t be so cocky.”

  Kaiden took the spyglass from the thief and looked through it again. To his surprise, the Retbit soldiers were taking off their surcoats and throwing them to the ground.

  “What do you make of that?” he asked, surprise in his voice.

  “I don’t like it. They’re up to something dodgy; I can feel it,” Thrift warned.

  As he watched, Kaiden saw more men begin to emerge from the trees. Every single one of them began to remove their surcoats. Those that carried the Retbit banner threw them aside, and men who had it sewn into their tunics ripped it off.

  “They’re deserting!” Grig exclaimed.

  Cautiously, Kaiden got onto his feet and gestured for his men to do likewise. Using hand signals, he positioned twenty archers on the hill and formed the rest up into a wide shield wall. He drew his sword and nodded to Thrift, who raised a horn to his lips. A loud mournful tone sounded. Kaiden smiled as the Retbit soldiers jumped in surprise and began to gesture frantically at the hill. One of the soldiers mounted a grey horse and galloped towards them. The man wore plate armour, and the blue plume on the top of his helmet identified him as a man of rank.

  “Hail! Please do not shoot!” the soldier shouted as he rode within earshot.

  “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Kaiden replied.

  “We are … were soldiers of Retbit.”

  The archers tensed and notched arrows.

  “Please don’t shoot! We come in peace; we wish to desert!”

  Kaiden raised an eyebrow in surprise. Thrift bristled beside him.

  “Were you at Balnor?” the thief demanded.

  “No. My company was at the Zulus River when we heard of what happened at Balnor. What Accadus did there is unforgivable. He has allied with the Old Enemy; this is something we cannot tolerate any longer.”

  “He’s lying,” Thrift snarled.

  “No. I don’t think so,” Kaiden said. Sheathing his sword, and ignoring the protests of his men, he strode down the hill. Once at the bottom, he walked over to the soldier and grabbed his horse’s reins. The man had brown eyes and was clean shaven. His stern face was that of a warrior.

  “What’s your name?” Kaiden asked.

  “Commander Tivon of the second Retbit Infantry force. What I said is all true. We were forced to serve Accadus. He murdered his father in cold blood, and then shortly after that the Sarpi arrived in Retbit from the sea. Those that protested were executed. He rules by fear and terrible dark magic. If we could have, we would have deserted sooner; but if we did, then he would have slaughtered us all.”

  “Why desert now? What’s changed?”

  Tivon looked away toward the trees and waved at his men to reassure them. He turned back to Kaiden, a serious look on his face.

  “Accadus was summoned west. He took the bulk of the army with him. We saw it as our chance to escape. We abandoned our fort on the Zulus and marched north until we reached this place. This is Sumil, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, you’re in Sumil,” Kaiden replied. “If what you say is true then you won’t object to us taking you and your officers as hostages. In exchange, your men can set up camp at the Niveren Priory. We have much to discuss.”

  *

  There was a reason that the army of Retbit was highly regarded by the other barons of the realm: it was efficient, well trained, and led by capable commanders. Once the deserters reached the priory, commander Tivon set his men to work with military efficiency, and before the sun was setting the soldiers had established their camp in the shadow of the priory walls. Kaiden stood in the central courtyard, his arms crossed across his chest.

  “Impressive isn’t the word I’d use,” Thrift complained at his side. “How can you trust the word of traitors and deserters?”

  Kaiden faced him, eyebrow raised.

  “How can I trust the word of a man who gives himself the title King of Thieves?” he countered.

  Thrift looked away and spat.

  “Yeah, yeah, good point.”

  Tivon walked towards them. The man’s face was gaunt, and dark rings of exhaustion were under his eyes, but despite that he still had an air of command about him.

  “I trust your men are settling in alright?” Kaiden asked.

  He understood Thrift’s reservations about letting the soldiers make camp at the priory, which was why he’d ordered what men he had under his command to keep their bows and swords at the ready. He looked up and noticed some of Thrift’s people watching from the walls. If anything kicked off, they would rain arrows and bolts down into the Retbit men below. Any fight would be messy, and with the repairs and preparations Kaiden had ordered be made it would not be an easy one for an attacker.

  “They are. I would like to thank you again for allowing us the shelter of your walls,” Tivon said. “I would have understood if you’d attacked us on sight. Retbit is reviled across the kingdom and rightly so. You must understand, we were the first people Danon conquered. The Sarpi garrison our towns, eager to torture or kill any who defy him.”

  Kaiden nodded. “Come with me.”

  He turned and led Tivon and Thrift across the courtyard and into a small stone building that stood at the far end. Unlike the others, this structure was short, and the stones it was made from were ancient in comparison to those used in the rest of the priory. With a shove, he opened the heavy oak door. Inside it was pitch black. Kaiden took a torch from a brazier on the wall and lit it with a firestone. Thrift and Tivon exchanged an uncertain glance as the newly birthed light revealed a narrow staircase that led downwards beneath the courtyard.

  “I always wondered about this building, but we could never get the ruddy door open,” Thrift muttered.

  “I found the key in the old Grand Master’s chambers,” Jaiden said. “Before this place became the home of the Knights of Niveren, it was a place of pilgrimage for the followers of the faith. Follow me.”

  The stairs spiralled downwards, the torch light revealing writings etched into the limestone walls. Some were prayers, others messages to loved ones. A few were of those of young lovers. The further they went downwards, the older the writings became.

  “How old is this place exactly? This writing is ancient runic; there’s even Nivionian here,” Thrift remarked, marvelling at the markings. He was no stranger to the old places of the world; he
’d shared enough adventures with Ferran to recognise the writings of the long dead ancient races that had once ruled the land.

  They reached the bottom of the stairs and found themselves in a long, narrow cavern. A solitary candle flickered up ahead. Without a word, Kaiden walked towards it.

  “For millennia, the Knights of Niveren defended the world from the horrors of Danon and the Void, but now with that evil spreading across the land, they are not there to be the bulwark against the tide. I came here to reform the Knights, and so I give you both a choice.”

  The candlelight revealed an altar covered by a square white linen cloth. On top of that was a golden chalice and a silver bowl. Kaiden walked over to it and stood behind the altar. He placed his hands on its surface and looked at his companions.

  “Take the oath of Niveren and fight the forces of darkness.”

  Thrift and Tivon exchanged a surprised look.

  “I’m sorry, Kaiden,” Thrft said, “but I am a thief first and foremost. To take such an oath would be a tad hypocritical, I think. What I can say to you, though, is that the Fleetfoots will support you in any way we can. We will act as your eyes and ears and, if needed, fight at your side.”

  Kaiden nodded. “I understand,” he replied with a smile. He turned his attention to Tivon. The commander stared at the altar, nervousness in his eyes.

  “I cannot speak for my men. We have much to atone for. Perhaps serving Niveren will help us do that? If we join you, will we have forgiveness?”

  “That is something I cannot answer commander,” Kaiden replied. “It will be for the peoples of Delfinnia to decide. But serving to fight the enemy will surely go a long way to absolving you and your men.”

  Tivon nodded and knelt before the altar. He drew his sword and handed it hilt first to Kaiden. Taking the weapon, he lay it on the altar’s surface and picked up the goblet. Inside was water taken from the lake of Sumil. For millennia, the waters had been sacred to the knights and members of the Niveren cult. Kaiden poured the water over the blade. Once done, he then picked up the sword and stood in front of the kneeling Tivon.

  “Repeat after me,” he said. “I swear to uphold the sacred laws of Niveren. I swear to protect the innocent and to fight evil in all its incarnations wherever it is found. I shall serve the king and defend his lands and peoples. I shall be generous and kind in all things. I shall not want for possessions, and forsake all greed. I devote my life to the Knights of Niveren.”

  Tivon repeated the words, his voice growing firmer as he spoke. Kaiden had seen many men take the oath, and all of them seemed changed by the words. As things went, the oath was simple, but that was the point. All who took it seemed changed.

  “In the name of Niveren, the sacred waters of Summil have washed away your sins. Stand now a knight of the Niveren order.”

  Tivon rose, and Kaiden offered the hilt of the sword to him. Tivon took it and, with an almost reverent expression, kissed the cold steel blade.

  “Congratulations, Tivon. You are the first of the new order of knights. I hope your men follow; we’re a little low in numbers.”

  “I’m sure they will. Thank you. We are all in need of a second chance. We will not fail this realm again,” Tivon replied determinedly.

  *

  The courtyard was packed with people. The Retbit soldiers mingled with refugees and volunteers that had made their way to the priory. Word had spread that the knights were reforming, and every day more people arrived to join the cause. Some had served in the order before Eclin; others had been soldiers from Balnor’s broken army. All in all, a thousand men capable of bearing arms stood together, their attention focused on the balcony above them.

  Kaiden had taken over the Grand Master’s chambers and was pacing nervously inside. Alira sat on the large bed, Ilene on her lap. The little girl wriggled and squirmed as her mother tried to brush her hair.

  “You’re nervous. This was your idea remember?” Alira said, a smile on her lips.

  Kaiden chuckled and stopped his nervous pacing.

  “I know. I know. Thank you for being so understanding, and I’m sorry I’ve not had much time to spend with you and Ilene.”

  Since arriving at Sumil, he had been on the move, only stopping to eat, drink and sleep. Organising the resurrection of a millennia-old order had been exhausting work. The arrival of the Retbit deserters had been a huge blessing. They were ready to mobilise a force, albeit a small one, much sooner than he had expected. The deserters had brought horses, armour and weapons with them, but much more would be needed to equip everyone. When the knights had disbanded, much of their equipment had been left behind. Unfortunately, the swords and most of the suits of plate armour had been sold off or stolen by thieves. Tivon and some of his officers had begun to train the volunteers, but it would be another few weeks before they would be battle-ready.

  Kaiden walked over to the bed and picked up the white surcoat that lay upon its surface. It bore the mantle of a Grand Master. He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer to Niveren before putting it over his head and his coat of chainmail. At his hip, polished to a bright shine, was his silver sword, Vengeance. All in all, he looked the epitome of a holy knight.

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the balcony doors.

  A cold chill was in the air, and rolling black clouds moved across the sky. Soon the first of the year’s snows would begin to fall. Despite the harsh weather the regions of the east suffered during the winter months, the snow and falling temperatures made the lands safer. Fell Beasts tended to fall in number during the cold months, as they sought shelter in the ancient Nivonian ruins that dotted the landscape, or hid in caves. With much of the eastern lands relatively untouched by the war, Kaiden hoped to travel the region and raise more support for the knights. He hoped that by the spring, he would have amassed a large enough force to challenge the enemy. The people below looked up at him as he walked over to the balcony’s railing. He raised his arms to quiet the murmuring crowd.

  “I thank you all for being here, and for taking the oath of Niveren. This priory and order represent hope for Delfinnia. We will not abandon the east to the armies of Accadus and his evil master.” He looked to the sky before continuing. “Do not be crestfallen by the coming of the winter. It will buy us time to grow in strength, so that when the light returns we will bring justice to the enemy. Each of you has your assignments; now let us go and restore hope to the kingdom.”

  The crowd began to cheer at his words.

  Suddenly, they were drowned out by a terrible roar that shook the priory. The cheers quickly turned to screams as a massive black dragon swooped down from the clouds. The beast was ginormous. The people in the courtyard scattered as it opened its cavernous maw and unleashed fire. The flames struck the courtyard with explosive force. Kaiden was blown off his feet and smashed through the balcony’s doors, his mantle steaming. He smacked his head against the hard wooden floor, and the world went black.

  *

  Kaiden awoke with a gasp. His head pounded and he could feel warm blood on his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Alira knelt over him.

  “We have to get out of here!” she yelled. To him, her voice sounded distant. The blast had affected his hearing.

  The world spun and his ears rang as he tried to get back onto his feet. Alira hurried to his side and helped him up.

  Together they staggered to the chamber’s doorway and pressed themselves against the stone. Ilene was bawling, her face and hair covered in shards of broken glass. Alira tried to comfort the little girl, but the roars of the dragon were enough to make the hardiest of men cower in fear.

  Kaiden moved back towards the broken balcony. Through the rising smoke and flames, he could see the beast circling overhead. Archers loosed arrows towards the beast, but none reached their intended target. They would have had little effect on the armoured scales of a dragon. For a moment, he feared that it would launch another attack. Instead, the dragon gave off one last roar before flying off towar
ds the east.

  Kaiden flinched. Moving fast between the clouds, he could see other shapes flapping their massive wings. More dragons. There were dozens of them.

  Head still ringing, Kaiden hurried down the spiral stairs toward the courtyard. Men and women rushed all around. Some were covered in black soot, others with terrible burns. He reached the ground floor. Tivon’s men rushed to put out the flames, while Thrift was bellowing orders to move the wounded. At seeing Kaiden, he sighed in relief.

  “What’s the situation?” Kaiden shouted. His ears were still ringing.

  “Most people managed to escape the courtyard when that bloody monster dove from the clouds. Some weren’t so lucky. We’ve got dozens injured, some seriously, most with minor burns. Grig and his men have moved most of the people down into the undercroft.”

  Kaiden nodded. It was a sensible plan. The undercroft was built deep beneath the earth and made from stone. There was also a secret passage that ran under Lake Sumil. In times of siege or attack, the tunnels were invaluable.

  “Did you see them all?” Kaiden asked, trying to do his best to keep the fear out of his voice.

  Thrift nodded, his skin visibly paler.

  “Looked to me like a whole bloody army of the things. Danon is no fool. He knew the East would be free from danger once he summoned Accadus’s forces to him. Those monsters are here for one purpose: to cause chaos.”

  Both men turned as Tivon approached. His white mantle and face covered in black soot.

  “We’ve managed to get most of the fires under control,” he said, wiping his brow. “Where did that winged horror come from?”

  “I don’t know, but we need to find out where they’re heading. The last thing we want are dragons making nests nearby. We need to send word to Caldaria; if we are to fight these creatures, I’ll feel a lot safer with mages at our side.”

  “Would be even better if we could get a wizard,” Thrift mumbled.

  Kaiden gripped Vengeance’s hilt. The dragon attack had forced his hand. Were they ready? His mind made up, he issued his orders: