“Or perhaps you are using him to lure Zollin here,” Kelvich said, and the room fell silent. The other men in the room were all military officers, and none of them had ever heard anyone confront the Duke before.
“Don’t be absurd,” the Duke said. “I’ve come to love the boy as if he were my own. I wish him here, where I can keep him safe.”
“You just said if the army at Fort Jellar attacks you could be overrun. Wouldn’t Jax be safer leaving the fort with me?”
“Somehow I doubt that,” the Duke said in a cynical voice.
Kelvich held his temper in check. He respected the Duke and appreciated all that had been done for him, but he despised the fact that he was seen as nothing more than an old man. He had powers that would shock the Duke and, under the right circumstances, destroy his precious Keep without lifting a finger, but he knew his anger wouldn’t serve him well now. He needed to get his things and catch up with Mansel.
“Very well,” Kelvich said. “I’ll leave Jax with you. Is there anything else you need?”
“I don’t suppose your friend has any useful intelligence about what is going on?”
“I doubt it,” Kelvich said. “My guess is Quinn was killed and Mansel is returning to give his friend the news.”
“Fine, go quickly. If you need anything tell my steward,” the Duke said, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.
Kelvich hurried out of the room and found Jax standing not far away.
“I have to leave the Keep for a while,” Kelvich told the boy.
“You do? Where are we going?” Jax asked.
“We aren’t going,” Kelvich said. “That is what the Duke wanted to talk to me about. He said he needs you. I’m just a bothersome old man, but the Duke has come to depend on you and wants you to stay.”
“He said that?” Jax said proudly. “He said he needs me?”
“Yes, now I want you to listen to me. Do everything you can to help him. He’s a good man, but he’s under a lot of pressure. Listen to him, keep your ears open, and pay attention to what is going on. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yes,” said Jax seriously.
“You’re a good boy and you have a bright future, but don’t try to be a hero. I want you to start looking for a way out of the Keep in case there is fighting. Always have a plan for an emergency.”
“Yes, Master Kelvich,” he said.
“I will come back for you,” Kelvich said. “I’ll bring Zollin back here and we’ll make things safe again. Until then, you do all you can to help, but stay safe.”
“I will. You can count on me.”
“I know I can,” Kelvich said. He hugged Jax and then looked him in the eye. “I’m very proud of you.”
Jax seemed to light up from the inside at hearing those words. Then he was off, hurrying back into the Duke’s audience chamber, and Kelvich’s eyes blurred with tears. He hadn’t realized how fond he’d become of the young orphan.
After gathering his belongings and the copies of the translations the scholars had finished, which had been collected into a stiff, leather portfolio, Kelvich went quickly to the stables. He found the stable master waiting with a fine-looking horse already saddled.
“She’s a reliable mount,” the man told him. “Her shoes are in good condition, and I’ve seen to everything.”
“Thank you,” Kelvich said.
“Take care of her,” the man said.
“I will.”
Kelvich stuffed his belongings into the empty saddle bags and climbed up onto the horse. He hoped that Mansel had been sincere when he offered to get their supplies, otherwise Kelvich would have to stop and buy them for himself before leaving the Keep. He didn’t even have a canteen or water skin.
He rode through the crowded courtyard and found Mansel waiting for him just outside the gate.
“It’s about time,” Mansel said. “I have the supplies. Let’s get moving.”
“You have enough for both of us?” Kelvich asked. “I don’t have food or water.”
“Yes, I have enough. Let’s go.”
They rode through the day, Kelvich trying to keep up with Mansel, who was in no mood to talk and who pushed his mount as hard as he could. They stopped just before dark and made camp. It was quiet, and the stars were bright and the moon was almost full. Kelvich was sore from riding hard all day. Once he had seen to his horse, giving her a good rubdown and making sure she was hobbled where there was plenty of grass for her to eat, he unrolled his blanket and lay down.
“Should I start a fire?” he asked.
“No,” Mansel said. “We don’t need one.”
He handed Kelvich a few strips of dried meat. Kelvich looked at the rations, his stomach growling with hunger, and sighed.
“I miss the meals at Ebbson Keep already,” Kelvich said.
“Sorry this isn’t some fancy dinner, but it’s enough to keep you going.”
“Do you want to tell me what happened now?” Kelvich said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what happened to Quinn?”
“He was captured.”
“What happened?” Kelvich asked sadly.
“He was captured,” Mansel repeated.
“By whom? The Mezzlyn? I didn’t think the assassins took hostages. Where is he?”
Kelvich waited, but Mansel didn’t volunteer any other information.
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
“It’s all that’s important.”
“Are you mad? Quinn was my friend. I have a right to know what happened.”
“No, you don’t,” said Mansel. “You have a right to be quiet and keep up, or you’ll get left behind. I don’t answer to you or anyone else. You can help me find Zollin or do whatever you want to do, but don’t bother me with questions.”
Mansel walked away, into the darkness. He was so angry he knew that if the old man pushed him he would snap, just like he had done in the village and with the constable. He didn’t want to hurt people, but he couldn’t stand being questioned all the time. He just wanted to find Zollin and get back to Gwendolyn.
Kelvich sat in the darkness, stunned by what he’d just heard. Mansel not only seemed evasive, but dangerous. The elder sorcerer knew better than to push his luck with the young warrior. Mansel reminded Kelvich of a bear that had been cornered by hunters. With nowhere else to turn, the beast was twice as dangerous. Making up his mind to hold his tongue until they found Zollin, he rolled himself up in his cloak and went to sleep.
* * *
For two weeks the armada of ships from Osla and Falxis beat their way up the coast. Offendorl was impatient, and although he had hoped to land at Tragoon Bay and sail up the Tillamook River rather than marching with the armies, he had finally relented and made landfall just up the coast from Winsome on the southwestern edge of Yelsia near Angel’s Shelter. The soldiers were rowed to shore and almost immediately met by scouts from the Yelsian army, who watched their every move but did not engage.
Offendorl wasted little time once the soldiers had landed. He met with King Belphan of Osla and King Zorlan of Falxis to plan their attack. They had four legions of foot soldiers and half a legion of cavalry. King Zorlan was a quiet man, content to stay out of the planning. The truth was, he was only participating to save face with the other kings, and he was afraid of Offendorl. Belphan postured and acted the part of the royal commander, but as always he deferred to the Master of the Torr. They sent scouts ahead and began slowly making their way north. Skirmishes between the scouts of both armies were common, but no major action had taken place. They were just south of Valeron when a small company of knights flying a white flag from their lances approached the army.
“Go and see what they wish to do,” Offendorl told Belphan. “Go with him, Zorlan, and each of you take one knight with you as an escort. Return to me with their demands and I shall instruct you on how to proceed.”
Both kings did as they were told. Offendorl was traveling in a very large wagon with a padded bed and his most valuable books. When the army camped, his mute eunuchs erected a tent next to the wagon and set up camp chairs with thick cushions for the ancient wizard. There was also a trap door in the ceiling of the wagon so Offendorl could sit on top of the large vehicle and have an unobstructed view of the army encampment and beyond. He used a small awning to keep the sun off his almost transparent skin, but that wasn’t necessary on this day, as clouds rolled in like a thick blanket being pulled over a bed.