King Of Souls (Book 2) Read online

  Rika pointed toward the infirmary’s far end. “I see Sir Alcott.”

  Ronan and Rika strode through the infirmary passing row after row of empty beds. They stopped before the bed holding the room's only occupant.

  A wooden tray sat atop a neat bedside table. A congealing uneaten mass of roast lamb, gravy, and winter squash lay undisturbed on a porcelain plate. Near the foot of the bed, Sir Alcott sat in a broad wooden chair and staring with concern at Harbor Master Fitzgerald Montgomery.

  Stretched flat on his back, Montgomery stared at the infirmary’s stone ceiling. Gray stubble covered his face, and swollen, dark pockets appeared beneath his bloodshot eyes.

  Ronan caught Sir Alcott’s gaze, and the scholar tipped his head in acknowledgment. Sir Alcott had sent for Ronan a quarter hour earlier with news that Montgomery had awakened. Ronan pulled up two side chairs beside Sir Alcott near the foot of Montgomery’s bed.

  Rika sat perched on the first chair, her eyes glued to Montgomery’s haggard face.

  Ronan joined her in the second chair. He glanced at Sir Alcott waiting for some form of approval before starting his interrogation.

  Sir Alcott nodded, and Ronan turned his attention to Montgomery pausing long enough to find the right words. He spoke, keeping his voice as calm and soothing as possible. “Mister Montgomery, can you hear me?”

  Montgomery’s gaze shifted toward Ronan. He stared through bleak, empty eye sockets before offering the barest nod.

  “I’m Ronan Latimer and this is Lady Rika Finn.” He gestured toward Rika keeping his voice calm and even.

  “I know who you are, Your Majesty.” Montgomery’s voice came out dry and raspy.

  Ronan stood moved to Montgomery's bedside table. He grabbed a smooth silver pitcher beading with condensation. He filled a pewter mug sitting on the dinner tray with cold water and offered it to Montgomery. “Please, drink. You sound parched.”

  Montgomery pushed himself up and took the pewter mug from Ronan raising it to his dry lips. “Thank you Your Majesty.”

  Ronan sat back in his chair. “Mister Montgomery, I understand you’ve been through a great deal during the last several weeks. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? The information might help us figure out what happened in Porthleven.”

  “Yes, sir. I think I can manage, but can I ask about my family first? Did they come back to Freehold with you?”

  Ronan’s eyes flickered to Rika, and she offered the barest shake of her head. “I’ll answer any questions I can, but might we start with your story instead?”

  Montgomery nodded.

  “What happened?”

  Montgomery spent the next half hour outlining in detail the events that unfolded in Porthleven a month ago. He began with the Damocles arriving in Porthleven. He described all that happened, including the horrific events in the harbor master’s office.

  “What happened after she killed the young man in the office?” Ronan said.

  “The lady, Tara, disappeared for weeks after….” Montgomery swallowed hard gripping the pewter mug so hard his knuckles turned white. “Those — creatures watched over me. They never left me alone, nor let me leave the office. I still haven’t seen my family.”

  “Did she say why she came to Meranthia? Or where she came from?” Ronan said.

  Montgomery shook his head. “The first thing she asked me about was the statue of Elan in the town square.”

  She could’ve asked anything, and she asked about Elan? Ronan exchanged a short glance with Sir Alcott. “What did she want to know about the statue?”

  “I told her Elan was the Lord, and I don’t think she took the news too well.”

  “Oh?” Ronan said.

  “She turned a sickly shade of green, and I thought she might throw up.”

  “What happened next?” Rika said.

  “She asked about King Ronan, m’lady,” Montgomery said. “I told her he was a good man, but I think my answer angered her.”

  “Why did she spare your life?” Sir Alcott said.

  “She said she would allow my family to live if I helped chase away any visitors that came snooping around the village.” Montgomery’s gaze drifted down his bed sheets. “I never managed to keep my end of that bargain.”

  “Did she hint at where she planned to go next?” Ronan said.

  Montgomery shook his head not looking up. “They never spoke of their plans openly.”

  “Mister Montgomery, do you know anything about a dragon statue?” Rika said.

  Montgomery’s head snapped up, and he stared wide-eyed at Rika. “Dragon statue? Why would you ask me about that m‘lady?” His hand trembled as he took another long drink from the mug.

  As she spoke, Rika’s gaze shifted to Ronan. “A woman in the village carried with her a dragon statue. It seemed important to her.”

  “What did she look like?”

  “A fair-haired woman,” Ronan said. “In her mid-thirties by my guess. Two children accompanied her.”

  Montgomery sat bolt upright. “That’s my Molly. You saw my Molly?”

  “We saw her.” Ronan couldn’t let Montgomery slip back into unconsciousness. He stood and picked up the silver pitcher. “Let me refill that for you.”

  “Is my Molly here in the city?” Montgomery said.

  “She seemed protective of the dragon statue,” Rika said. “Is it a family heirloom?”

  Montgomery glanced between Rika and Ronan. “Yes, it is. My father gave it to me and my grandfather before that. For two centuries the statue has passed from hand to hand along Montgomery family lines.”

  “I mean no offense, but it didn’t seem particularly grand,” Ronan said.

  Montgomery shook his head. “It’s not especially. It carries great personal value for my family Your Majesty.”

  Ronan paused, waiting for Montgomery to continue.

  “The villagers believe the dragon statue helps ward off certain creatures,” Montgomery said.

  Sir Alcott bit down on the stub of his unlit pipe. “What sort of creatures?”

  Montgomery shook his head. “It’s foolish superstition.”

  “Does Molly think it’s foolish?” Rika said.

  Sadness crept into the corners of Montgomery’s bleary, bloodshot eyes. “No.”

  “We don’t mean to press, but this information could be important,” Ronan said.

  “Dragons,” Montgomery said, his voice a hoarse whisper. “The statue helps ward Porthleven from dragons.”

  “Dragons?” Ronan said.

  Montgomery nodded and pushed backward leaning against the headboard. “Perhaps if I explained Your Majesty.”

  “Please,” Ronan said.

  “Porthleven lies a stone’s throw from the Adris Mountains,” Montgomery said.

  “Yes, I recall flying in its shadow on our way into Porthleven.”

  “The nearest village to Porthleven is two days hard travel up the coast,” Montgomery said. “We’re an isolated community. Our people have passed stories and legends through the generations.”

  “Campfire stories conjured up to scare small children are no reason to believe in dragons,” Rika said.

  “It’s what our folk believe,” Montgomery said, glaring at Rika. “And it goes far beyond campfire stories.”

  Ronan shot Rika a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”

  Montgomery rubbed his chin and his eyes darted toward Sir Alcott before settling on Ronan. “In Porthleven, we believe Elan our Lord, but we hold other beliefs. Strong beliefs that have kept our village safe for centuries.”

  Sir Alcott feigned disinterest, but Ronan knew the old scholar hung on every word. “What beliefs?” Sensing Montgomery’s hesitation, Ronan thought to add another promise. “As king, you’ve my solemn promise. I won’t hold you or anyone from Porthleven accountable for the information you provide.”

  Montgomery’s shoulders eased, and he exhaled a held breath nodding. “We’ve seen strange events that I can’t explain.” A grim smile cl
ipped Montgomery’s lips before fading.

  “What have people reported?” Ronan said.

  “On a clear day, you can see a long way out over the Araxis Sea. I’ve seen the beasts hunt Your Majesty.” Montgomery’s red-rimmed eyes reflected fear. “With my own eyes, I’ve seen dragons far out over the ocean carry away grown whales with childlike ease.”

  Sir Alcott stiffened, but kept silent.

  As a battle knight, Ronan knew the mind could play games with your eyesight. He remained still focusing his attention on Montgomery’s confession.

  “They live in the Adris Mountains?” Rika said.

  Montgomery nodded. “High up in the Adris where the sky ends.”

  As interesting as Ronan found Montgomery’s story, it wouldn't help determine Tara’s movements. He couldn’t continue wasting time. “Mister Montgomery, I —”

  “We’ve built shrines on the paths leading into the Adris,” Montgomery said interrupting Ronan. His eyes drifted, and he seemed oblivious to his surroundings. “We leave offerings for the beasts. Doing so keeps them away from our village.”

  The hair on Ronan’s neck bristled. “What offerings?”

  “Mostly seafood. Fish, seals, and the occasional shark. But winter can bring hard times to our village. When the winds turn colder, the seas freeze, and we can’t fish. It’s during those times we’ve had to improvise.”

  Ronan squeezed his eyes closed. He hoped he’d misunderstood Montgomery’s words. “Improvise?”

  Montgomery again lowered his gaze finding great interest in his sky-blue bedspread. “It’s almost always a volunteer. Somebody old or sick with little hope of surviving the winter. Please don’t take it out on the people of Porthleven, Your Majesty. When the ice freezes, it doesn’t just freeze for us. The dragons have to eat too. At least this way, we get to choose.”

  Ronan’s stomach churned. He’d heard enough. “Thank you, Mister Montgomery. You needn’t explain any further.”

  “Your Majesty, my wife Molly… did she travel back to Freehold with you? What about my children, Anna and Cal? Are they here? I need to see them please.”

  Ronan’s shoulders sagged, and a wave of exhaustion swept over him. “They didn’t come with us.”

  Panic rimmed Montgomery’s eyes, and he clutched the bed sheets. “But they’re alive and well right? She said she wouldn’t harm them.”

  “Except for you, nobody escaped Tara’s wrath,” Ronan said. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

  “No! Please Elan no! Why didn’t you save them?” Montgomery lurched upward, his panicked gaze darted around the room as if trapped. “I have to find them! She promised me she wouldn’t hurt them!”

  Sir Alcott stood and rounded the bed, towering over Montgomery. He laid a beefy palm on Montgomery’s shoulder. White flows of magic traveled from his open hand sinking into the distraught harbor master’s skin.

  Montgomery’s eyes drifted closed, and he sank back into bed. His rigid body slackened, and his breathing evened as he drifted off to sleep.

  Rika stared at Montgomery through tear-rimmed eyes. “You poor man.”

  “We need to let him rest,” Sir Alcott said.

  Ronan released a held breath and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “We have to find Tara before she hurts anybody else. She’s not likely to return to Porthleven, but it’s a good place to start our search.”

  “I agree,” Sir Alcott said. “Devery’s posted scouts at every road leading into and out of Porthleven. So far, they’ve reported nothing.”

  “She’s back on her ship,” Rika said.

  Ronan nodded. “If she plans to stay in Meranthia, she could only go north or south from Porthleven,” Ronan said. “Sir Alcott, we’ll use the guardians and knights to search the coast for Tara’s ship. Can you send word to Devery to take a guardian north along the coast? Have them start in Porthleven and follow the shoreline. He can call on troops stationed in Ripool if he needs help.”

  “Yes Your Majesty,” Sir Alcott said.

  “We need to send word to the Ayralen Assembly. Tara may have infiltrated Ayralen or plans to. Have Jeremy and the second guardian travel to the Heartwood. Maybe my father can spare a few members of Lora’s Guard to aid our cause.”

  Sir Alcott nodded. “I’ll tell him.”

  “You mean for us to travel south?” Rika said. “That will take us over the Adris Mountains.”

  “As far-fetched as Montgomery’s story might sound, he seemed convinced. I don’t want to send Devery or Jeremy into danger.” Ronan nodded. “Yes, you and I will follow the shoreline and scout south along the coastline. But, I’ve no intention of entering the Adris Mountains.”

  Concern laced Sir Alcott’s expression. “Ronan, the last expedition we sent into the Adris Mountains never returned. That’s uncharted territory.”

  “When we spot Tara, we’ll turn around. Besides, I’m sure Montgomery’s embellished his story. Do you really believe in dragons?” Ronan said. “We would’ve seen them centuries ago.”

  Sir Alcott sighed and returned to his chair. “I’ve gained new information that might support Montgomery’s case.”

  “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to say?” Ronan said.

  “In the last few months, we’ve made progress translating the Book of Order, and it’s revealed some… insights.”

  “What have you discovered?” Ronan said.

  “Elan and Lora conspired to shatter the Orbs of Power,” Sir Alcott said.

  “Yes, we know. You told us that last summer,” Rika said.

  “Yes, Lady Rika. We now believe we know why. When Elan and Lora shattered the orbs, remnants of the orb’s power infused magic into the broken shards. But Elan and Lora shattered the orbs as a last desperate act to protect Meranthia and Ayralen.”

  “How does creating the shards help protect either country? It would only serve to limit the magic,” Ronan said.

  “That’s a good question, but the shattering provided much more,” Sir Alcott said. “Once destroyed, the orbs' stored power created magical barriers around both Meranthia and Ayralen. It’s protected our borders for two-thousand years.”

  “Protected us from what?” Ronan said, but he knew the answer.

  Sir Alcott’s stared through grim eyes. “I think we’ve seen firsthand.”

  “The dragons too?” Ronan said. “Do you think the barrier has kept the dragons out of Meranthia?”

  Sir Alcott shrugged. “I don’t know how far the barrier extended, but Porthleven is near the coast. Maybe they lived outside its protection, but that’s conjecture. The book made no mention on that point.”

  “How could we freely travel to Porthleven all these years?” Ronan said. “Wouldn’t this barrier stop us too?”

  Sir Alcott shook his head. “We can only guess. Maybe the barrier extends over the Araxis Sea, and we’ve lived with these dragons under its protection. It might help explain why we’ve lost so many seafaring vessels over the centuries.”

  Ronan’s stomach sank. “By restoring the orbs, I’ve doomed us all?”

  “If you’d allowed Merric Pride to destroy Lora’s Heart, magic would’ve died and the barrier with it. At least now, we can fight back.”

  “If we can fight back, why didn’t Elan and Lora?” Ronan said.

  Ronan’s question hung thick and silent before Rika finally spoke.

  “There’s no sense lingering on that question. We have work to do,” Rika said.

  Ronan stood. “You’re right. Let’s go find Tara.”

  The Shaman

  Two-hundred yards ahead, bleached white bone shimmered inside heat waves baking the desert floor.

  “We’ve made it,” Fizzle said. “Misho is up ahead.”

  Danielle blocked the sun with her hand and scanned the horizon. Other than the remains of some desert creature, she saw miles of hard packed desert sand and glittering crystal rock. “Fizzle, I don’t see anything.”

  “Are you blind? Yo
u’re staring straight at it.”

  Danielle shook her head and remained silent as they crossed the final stretch of desert toward the village.

  From fifty-yards away, the bone pile revealed itself as an enormous bleached white skull.

  Danielle gasped and stood frozen, staring in awe at the enormous ten-foot tall skull.

  Fizzle glanced over his shoulder and furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you coming?”

  “What is that?” Danielle pointed to the half-buried skeleton stretched out on the desert floor ahead.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Danielle pointed to the long white skull with giant, menacing eye sockets. The skull’s mouth hung open, revealing row after row of razor sharp serrated teeth. Packed sand covered the dead beast’s lower jaw sloping downward into murky shadows.

  Fizzle cocked his head as if confused. “That’s Misho.”

  “I thought you said Misho was a village.”

  “She is now,” Fizzle said. “Misho was a dragon. She died during the second Alaran war.”

  “A dragon? You’ve got to be joking.” Danielle stared slack-jawed unable to believe her ears. “Dragons aren’t real.”

  Fizzle scratched his head. “How I wish that were true.” He gestured toward the dragon carcass. “But there it is. Come on. Misho’s guards will get suspicious if we hang out here too long.”

  A numb dread spread over Danielle’s body as the dragon’s skull loomed ahead. Had dragons caused the strange lights over the desert? But, why now? She wanted nothing more than to feel naked heartwood beneath her bare feet and to talk this whole mess out with her father.

  From the skull’s shadowy entrance, two men appeared. Each guard wore crude leather armor and carried a sharp, gleaming crystal blade. The first guard held a pale-blue crystal long sword overhead and sunlight sparkled from its surface.

  “Halt,” the guard said.

  Fizzle led Danielle and Karli to the guard and stopped. “There’s no need to be so formal Urtzi. It’s just me and Karli.”

  Urtzi glared at Danielle. “Who is she, and why is her hair gold?”

  “She’s with me. An atter struck her friend.” Fizzle nodded toward Keely lying unconscious atop Karli. “I came for Ajahn Brees’s help.”