“This is the High Clerist’s Tower,” the Nightmaster said.
“Why did you bring me here?” the lord regent demanded.
“It was either that or let the emperor kill you,” replied the priest. “For reasons unknown to me at the moment, I elected to save your life.”
Blayne stood at the top of the steps leading up to the gate tower. The column of Dark Knights still milled around outside the gate, blocked by the portcullis he had just dropped, but there were a score or more of the attackers-including Captain Blackgaard-already in the city. The knights were charging him, coming up the stairway with swords drawn and murderous intent on their faces.
The young lord met the first of those foes with a savage downward chop, delivered with such force he shattered the knight’s upraised blade and cut deeply into the man’s face. Immediately twisting the blade free, he knocked a second knight to the side, sending the fellow tumbling back down the stairs with his throat cut.
But the stairs were wide enough for the Dark Knights to come at him two at a time and so they did. The next pair, no doubt gaining some respect for their opponent after seeing the fate of the initial attackers, approached more cautiously. Striking from below, they aimed at Blayne’s legs, both stabbing simultaneously. The young lord couldn’t parry two blows at once; he had no choice but to back away, even though that meant giving up his position at the top of the stairs.
He backed across the tower platform, moving into the corner and raising his sword as the attackers swept onto the platform. “Kill that one!” barked Captain Blackgaard, pointing at the young lord of Vingaard.
A trio of Dark Knights rushed at him. Blayne slashed to the right and left, cutting down two but leaving an opening for the middle attacker. That knight grinned coldly as he raised his blade. Then he croaked and stumbled sideways, an arrow jutting from the side of his neck.
Blayne wasted no time wondering who was shooting. He charged in a fury, cutting down another black-clad soldier and fighting his way toward the stairs. The other Dark Knights on the platform shouted in consternation as swords clashed against shields and other blades cut into flesh. A wild melee erupted, swordsmen ducking and dodging, parrying and attacking on all sides.
Captain Blackgaard stepped into Blayne’s path, and the nobleman feinted a thrust at the mercenary Dark Knight’s face. The veteran officer sneered and stepped back then charged again. Once more the lord struck high; once more Blackgaard parried the blow. Then too late, he saw his mistake. The lord stabbed straight ahead, driving his blade through the captain’s belly, pushing him back and down with the force of the killing blow.
Then the new men, led by Sir Ballard, were all around. They spilled from the stairs to rush across the platform. Archers shot arrows at the Dark Knights who had been blocked outside the city gate by the closed portcullis. Unable to fight against those lethal missiles, the horsemen put spurs to their mounts and galloped into the night.
Only vaguely did Blayne understand that he had been saved, but when he finally realized who his savior was, he clasped hands with Sir Ballard and allowed himself a groan of relief.
The Legion of Steel was there.
“Are you all right?” Jaymes said, kneeling beside Selinda while Coryn freed the bonds on Melissa du Juliette. They were in Selinda’s rooms in the palace, having teleported there after the Nightmaster and the lord regent left the Golden Spire.
“Yes-I’ll be fine. But the city-the coup?”
“I think the coup is falling apart. But I have to go out there and be seen. The people need to know that their emperor is back.”
“Yes, they do,” the emperor’s wife agreed. She winced in sudden memory. “But Father! He-”
“I know,” Jaymes said. “He’s even more of a scoundrel than I thought he was.”
“Where did he go?” Selinda asked.
“The Nightmaster’s magic bore them both away from here,” Melissa explained. “They could be anywhere.”
“I have a feeling I know where they are,” Jaymes said grimly. “And as soon as the city is secured, I will be going there. Now… I’m sorry… but I have to go.”
“Yes-and good luck to you,” said the princess. She made no move to embrace or to kiss him, and after a moment’s hesitation, he turned and quickly departed, running down the palace stairs.
The princess collapsed back against the couch, trying to catch her breath and fathom all that was happening.
Coryn and Melissa du Juliette explained how they had tracked her to the Hale and Farewell, confronted Lame Hale, and brought Jaymes back to Palanthas.
“Thank you-thank you both,” Selinda said gratefully. “What about that place-Lame Hale! He’s a slaver, right here in Palanthas!”
“He’s a dead slaver now,” the priestess noted grimly. “Someone killed him with a spell while we were trying to question him. Everyone associated with that place will be dealt with. As we learned what was happening, the knights of Kiri-Jolith were moving into that place, rounding up everyone they could catch there. Their justice will be stern, and it is safe to assume the building has been destroyed, the proprietors slain or captured.” She shook her head. “I do not envy the prisoners of the knights, if those prisoners are known to have abused a woman.”
“Why did he pick me?” Selinda wondered. “Nobody in there knew who I was; that’s one thing I liked about the place.”
“Perhaps it was nothing more than a random accosting,” the priestess suggested.
“I’m not so sure,” Coryn said, surprising both of the women.
“What do you mean?” Selinda asked.
“I spoke to some of the customers in that place and the barkeep after we took Hale and found your ring. I’m convinced he did know who you are.”
“But-how? I never revealed my identity!” protested the princess.
“That is a very good question. But the barkeep’s story has led me to believe that Hale must have been trying to lure you, personally, into the place. I suspect he used charm magic himself. He was a sorcerer, though not a follower of godly magic.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“Why did you go in there in the first place?” the wizard probed gently.
“I… I was just out walking. It felt so good to be free of my room, my guards… my husband. And I followed the inviting scent of the waterfront because it had been so long since I’d been there. At least, I thought that was the reason. And then this man, Hale, called to me as I passed on the street. I was frightened at first… but then, it just seemed like it would be interesting and fun.”
Selinda felt sick and humiliated as she made her confession.
“And once you were inside? I understand you went there several times. Why?”
“Hale… well, he seemed so friendly. A good listener…” Selinda’s voice trailed away. How could she have been so foolish? Or so lucky, she realized, considering the narrowness of her escape. “How did you find me?” she asked.
“The ring I gave you,” Coryn explained. “Because I made it, its magic has a very strong connection to me. We noticed you had been missing over a period of days, so I cast a spell to locate the ring, and the ring led us to Hale.”
Selinda slumped back in her chair, sinking into the cushions, weary and still frightened.
“There’s more,” Melissa said, looking at Coryn with a raised eyebrow. The enchantress nodded, and the priestess continued. “Did you drink something called a Red Lotus?”
“Yes,” Selinda replied. “That’s how he knocked me out.”
“There is some danger in that drink. Hale was terrified when he learned you were pregnant.”
“You mean-the drink would hurt the baby?” gasped Selinda. She dropped her head into her hands. “Oh, by Kiri! I didn’t want that! Not like this!”
“I don’t think that’s the issue. I don’t think it would harm the baby. Hale did not strike me as the type to fear someone else’s troubles, and yet he was unquestionably afraid when he learned that you were carrying a child. No, I am worried that it is something even more mysterious. The child might be a danger to others-maybe everyone-or maybe those like Hale, who do wrong. There’s no way to know exactly what the danger is.”