“I knew I had seen his insignia before. The Silver Knights. I thought they died out over sixty years ago?” Areth shouted.
“Most of my order did. We were the spearhead of the final charge at the battle at Brobantol Crossing. Their line parted rather than be ridden down and we rode into the middle of every spell caster, priest and siege engine Xhiandrae Maximus had. It was a very effective trap.”
“I suppose you were at the forefront of the charge and somehow survived?” Tanadon's voice dripped with scorn and disbelief.
“No. Nowhere near it. Our Knight Commander held that spot of honor.” The knight’s face fell and tears welled up in his eyes. “I was on the right flank, almost to the edge. A senior knight held each end. We spread out into line when they hit us and almost a thousand knights died in that first attack.
There were not enough to kill us all, so they faced maybe twenty knights on each of their flanks who hit them with nothing but our swords and vengeance in our hearts. Perhaps ten of us met in the middle and sought out Xhiandrae. He did not live out the hour. I am one of four who survived. None of us unwounded.” The survivors were silent. His listener’s bodies shivered from the power of the knight’s words as he relived the tale of that fatal day.
Gregor noticed that even the priest’s beads had stopped while he listened to the tale. He’d heard tales of that battle. Xhiandrae’s army had routed when they saw his severed head hoisted aloft on one of the knight’s great sword. The same type of sword the knight had on his back. Maybe the same sword. Now he wasn’t certain if their entire party could have defeated him. He was armored from head to toe in Mythraium. Pure silver and steel from the skies alloyed together by magic. Their weapons and shields were the same metal. What he wore could buy at least a knighthood and a large fiefdom from the Kingdom of Nardellia. A small barony in other kingdoms. That armor ignored most weapons and spells. The stories said you could kill the man inside, but could not harm the armor.
Areth broke the silence. “Sir knight. How is it you still live? You look maybe fifty or sixty years of age?”
“Sorcerers, wizards and such have ways of prolonging their lives. Each year Raytheda creates a potion which prolongs my life. I am the protector of the village. Not of Raytheda. He can protect himself.”
“Why you alive?” Okston spoke up for the first time.
“The original Ebon Sorcerer destroyed a quarter of the village when he first came here. He wanted them to fear him and not attack him. It only partly worked. That’s why the stories spread that they needed someone to kill him. This is why a Knight of Mabendus Aurias came. As you said, we are sworn enemies of evil.”
“Why no kill Raytheda?”
“I couldn’t. Both Raytheda and I were once a part of the same party. We fought together for years and saved each other many times. It was a party, much like yours. We forged an agreement. As long as the local people leave him alone and provide him with what he needs and there is a knight to protect the village, the Ebon Sorcerer will not harm them or their village. Now that he pays for what he needs instead of taking it, they found that they can live with that.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Raytheda was not the best of men but he was far from the worst. A god cursed him and he changed. That’s why he is what he is today. It is also why he is more powerful now than ever before.”
Walthor’s voice broke from his pain as he cut in, “We heard he has books of the old and forbidden magics. Is that true?”
“He has old books and scrolls of magic. Seeking sources of the old magic is why our fellowship is no more and why he is what he is now. More than that I will not say.”
“I say we keep moving,” Tanadon said. “Put Walthor and Shantaro in the wagon. I’ll trust the knight’s tokens to protect those others who died. Areth, as soon as you can, we need Shantaro back.”
“I will as soon as I’m able. But that will deplete my Spirit for much longer.” Areth replied.
“A token for him. Quickly. We must hurry now.”
The knight helped gather the bodies together, His short prayer over his token that he set on each body, placed a faintly glowing protective aura around each of the dead.
When they started out again the thief, Sa-sa led once more, searching for traps ahead. Okston and Tanadon followed behind him. Areth and the knight came next. Gregor and the wagon followed them with its two living and one dead passenger. A short way back came Rolf and the last of the hired fighters, watching their rear.
----------------------------------------
Sa-sa disarmed a few more mechanical traps along their way. They were clever and well hidden, but Sa-sa was better. “Raytheda may be a great wizard,” Gregor thought, "but he wasn’t as good with traps like these. Traps like these!” “Stop! Everyone stop!” Gregor shouted, pulling on his reins to stop his wagon. “Raytheda’s a sorcerer, not an engineer. I think these traps are like the first trap. It feels too easy. I think we’ve run out or almost run out of the traps he meant us to find. There’s a something worse coming. I can feel it.”
Tanadon and added his voice to Gregor’s, “Stop! Everyone freeze in place! Don’t move” Silence filled the swamp. Even the ordinary creatures, and there were a few, were silent from the sudden outbursts. “Damn it! Gregor’s right. I should have seen it. Priest, look all around for illusions. Walthor, are you well enough to spot any magic? Everyone, look around. Don’t go anywhere someone hasn’t gone before.”
“Sorry Tanadon. Too much pain and I haven’t recovered enough to cast that spell yet. Give me about an hour and I can do it.”
“I don’t know if we can wait that long. We have to save you for Raytheda. What would you set up after these traps? Think man!”
Walthor grimaced in pain as he half sat up, leaning on one elbow, deep in thought. “He hasn’t done the same thing twice. The chest again would be too obvious. So, would the pit. This time we know not to run back. He could do more of those fanged creatures, but they may be hard to get.” While he paused in thought, he looked around the area from the wagon bed. “I’d do a creature. Something that could kill more of us. Whittle us down so we aren’t a threat anymore. It’s only a guess, the best one I got.”
“Your guesses have saved us before, so everyone keeps extra watch for living things along the path.” Twisting round in his saddle, he checked front and back for anything, before riding on down the path. So far, everything except the ever-present insects were quiet.