* * *
Slowly, Jenel opened her eyes. She yawned a she groggily sat up. The tent flaps beat against the wind. A figure stood over her. She recognized the tangled beard of Max.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Confused, Jenel stared at the wizard. She touched the place where the arrow pierced her. It throbbed, but the bleeding had stopped. “Where am I? And why am I not dead?”
Max handed her a cup of water. Jenel sipped it greedily to alleviate her dry mouth. “I am about to do something that has never been done,” said Max, “I am about to break an oath sworn by magic.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you need to know the truth. Come with me.”
Jenel followed Max to another part of the tent. Before her was the strangest orb. Its blue color filled the area. It was made of smooth marble and floated delicately above a basin of water.
“This is the Stone of Elya,” said Max. “Ernayn has allowed me to borrow it.”
“What is all this?” asked Jenel.
“Look into the stone,” said Max, “It will show you what you need to know.”
Jenel eyed him warily.
“Look into it,” Max urged.
Jenel regarded the blue stone warily. Suddenly, she found herself being pulled toward it. Before she knew what had happened, the tent changed into one occupied by Tesnayr. He studied maps, oblivious to her presence.
“I need to speak with you alone,” said Rybnik as he entered the tent.
“Very well,” said Tesnayr, “Come in.” He glanced around outside to make certain that they would not be overheard. “What is it you wish to see me about?”
“Two orcs just approached me asking me to join Galbrok,” said Rybnik.
“And what was your reply?”
“I told them I’d have to consider the matter.”
“How interesting,” said Tesnayr, “What made you say that?”
“I thought it best if I did not reply immediately. In fact, they seemed pleased that I was uncertain and gave me a week to consider their request.”
“This is most excellent,” said Tesnayr, more to himself.
“Excellent?”
Tesnayr ignored Rybnik’s question. Unexpectedly, everything that Max had told him made sense. “I understand that you once sought to overthrow King Slyamal.”
“Yes, but that was ten years ago. It was because of Janine that I was only exiled instead of executed.”
“This is why the orcs approached you. You have a history of betrayal. I mean no disrespect,” Tesnayr finished upon noticing the scowl on Rybnik’s face. “I want you to accept their offer.”
“What?”
“Allow me to explain,” said Tesnayr, “This tactic is nothing new with the orcs. They routinely recruit members of their opponent’s army to use as spies. Which we can use to our advantage.
“We are not winning this war. Galbrok cares nothing for the loss of a few men within his army. He would murder an entire legion if it gained him dominance over this land. I have gone about this war the wrong way.
“The only way to defeat the orcs is to kill Galbrok. But he never appears in the open. He prefers the shadows. What I need is a man to draw him out. Since you have already been approached, it proves that they trust you, to a degree.”
Rybnik listened intently to Tesnayr’s words. “What are you asking of me?”
“I want you to join Galbrok.”
“If it will win this war,” Rybnik said.
“Do not accept this task lightly,” said Tesnayr, “If you accept it, understand this, you will be completely alone. Whatever friends you have now will be lost. You can never confide in the orcs nor those who serve them. No one will know the truth, except for myself, the wizard, and Turyn. You will use Turyn to send me messages about the orcs’ movements. You will also have to give them some valuable information about this army to make your part convincing. Most importantly, you must do what is necessary to gain Galbrok’s trust.
“If you accept this task, you will become the most reviled man in the five kingdoms and you will have to commit the greatest act of betrayal to prove your loyalty to Galbrok. Understand, Rybnik, there is no returning from this.”
Rybnik inhaled sharply holding the air in his lungs for a moment before releasing it. “I understand,” he said, softly.
Tesnayr poked his head outside the tent. “Turyn. Max.”
Moments later, the black cat and the wizard entered the tent. They glanced at Rybnik.
“Max,” said Tesnayr, “Make certain that prying ears cannot hear us.”
Max uttered a quick spell. He nodded in Tesnayr’s direction, indicating that their secrets were safe.
“I have called you in here for an important mission. Rybnik is going to commit treachery so that the orcs will accept him as one of their own. In return, he will spy on the orcs. Turyn, you will carry messages back and forth between us. And you will be traveling on a dragon.
“Max, as I understand it, an oath sworn before a wizard cannot be broken. Therefore, we will swear before you. And you must pretend to think Rybnik a traitor and hate him like the rest of this army will. I swear to you that none of what is said here will be repeated.”
Turyn padded forward. “If you wish this Tesnayr, then I will do it. I swear to carry the messages as you command. And I will speak of this to no one.”
An orange glow filled the room with each word Turyn spoke.
Rybnik breathed deeply. A part of him wished to back away. But he knew that defeating the orcs was more important than his desires. “I vow to serve you, Tesnayr. I will gain Galbrok’s trust by any means. I will pass you the information you need. From this day forth, I am your most loyal servant.”
The orange light filled the tent after Rybnik had finished his oath. Max did a quick flip of his hands and the light vanished. “It is done,” he said. “None of you can break this vow. But why has the dragon not sworn the same oath?”
Tesnayr smiled a knowing smile. “The dragons answer to me. Selexia vowed their service to me for as long as I shall live. Any command I give them must be obeyed.”
“Indeed,” said Max, “This is the first that this has ever happened. How did you gain her trust?”
“That is a long story,” replied Tesnayr, “And one I shall tell you all when this is over.”
Suddenly, Jenel found herself at the exact moment she and Rybnik argued. She found it strange to be watching herself. Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered that fight and how soon after Rybnik had committed his act of treachery. Her mind struggled with the fact that this was all a ruse.
The image faded out before being replaced with that of the battle in front of the Keep of Edrei. She watched once again as Rybnik rode away with the orcs. All the hatred she had felt at that moment rushed back. It boiled within her until she managed to control it. This was all a trick? The betrayal had seemed genuine. Many had been killed because of it.
One part of the memory caught Jenel’s attention. She remembered how Rybnik’s manner had been cold and emotionless. She watched as he lagged behind the fleeing orcs. Rybnik stopped his horse and turned around looking back at what had been, at what he had left behind. A sliver of pain filled his features. In a flash it had gone. Determined, he kicked his horse catching up with the orcs and with what he must do.
Again the image faded away only to be replaced with another. Jenel watched as Rybnik snuck into a room. She recognized the interior of the palace of Drynelle. Rybnik quickly went inside shutting the door silently. He searched the room systematically as he pulled open drawers and inspected the shelves. Finally, he yanked the correct drawer open. Maps spilled out of it. Rybnik scooped up the maps and other bits of parchment. He inspected them making certain that they were what he needed.
A noise startled him. Folding the maps, Rybnik shoved them under his shirt and ran to the door. He carefully opened it peeking out into the corridor. Swiftly, Rybnik darted out of the room shutting the do
or behind him. He dashed behind a corner just as Blynak appeared.
Blynak glanced about him. Satisfied that no one watched him, he stole into the same room that Rybnik had just vacated. Rybnik stared at the wood door for a moment. Jenel knew he had formulated a plan.
Suddenly, she found herself in another room. Galbrok was there, along with several other orcs, Blynak, and Rybnik. Jenel watched as Rybnik entered the chamber. He strolled past Blynak. Jenel thought he had come too close to the man. She watched carefully, noticing how Rybnik slipped the maps he had taken earlier into Blynak’s pocket before settling himself at the table.
The scene changed to a room within the castle of Drynelle. Rybnik paced nervously in front of the fireplace. Sweat glistened on his skin.
“I can’t do it, Turyn! I cannot kill him,” said Rybnik pacing the floor uncontrollably.
“If Galbrok demands it, you must,” said Turyn, “You swore an oath to Tesnayr. You swore before the wizard.”
“What if Galbrok puts her up there?”
“You must do what is necessary to remain in Galbrok’s confidences. Whomever he chooses, you must kill. And do not betray your emotions.”
“I cannot murder Jenel.”
“Your love for her will—”
“It is not what you think,” said Rybnik, “Long ago I vowed to protect her. To keep her safe.”
“Why?” Turyn asked, tenderly.
“I killed her sister.”
“Rybnik,” soothed Turyn, “Whatever happens you must go through with it. When asked to pick your weapon, choose the bow. And miss the heart.”
“But—”
“Trust me,” said Turyn. He vanished into the dancing shadows of the firelight.
Jenel felt the hard earth beneath her feet again. She breathed deeply regaining her composure after the Stone of Elya released her. She looked about her. The stone remained where it was. Max was near her, studying her.
“Do you understand now?” asked the wizard.
“You mean to tell me that this was a ruse, a plan to gain Galbrok’s trust?”
“Yes,” said Max. “Tesnayr realized that there was no other way to defeat him.”
“But the men that were killed,” said Jenel, “The crushed spirits.”
“A calculated risk.”
“It could have all gone terribly wrong!”
“Anything can go wrong,” said Max, “But you do things hoping that they go the way they should. We needed to get Galbrok into the open. This was the only way to do it, though you almost destroyed Tesnayr’s plans.”
“Me?”
“There was a reason he left you behind in Hemίl. There was a reason he left you here to protect the rear line. And it wasn’t because you are a woman. He didn’t want you charging after him and almost ruining what he worked so hard to achieve.
“As it happened, you went charging after him anyway and managed to get yourself captured. You were not supposed to be in the castle. Only Tesnayr was.
“Luckily, Turyn managed to get a message to me in time so that I could ensure you’d be brought back here.”
“If I had known—”
“Everything had to appear genuine. Besides, in a plan like this, the less people that know the better,” said Max. “I am only telling you now because there is no other way to explain how you are still alive.”
Jenel absorbed everything Max had just told her. “Rybnik. How I hated what he had done.”
“And now?”
“And now I feel so ashamed.”
“You’ll get your chance to tell him.”
“What do I do now?” asked Jenel.
“That is up to you,” replied Max. “I could tell you to remain here, but you’ll just go charging off again. Your father has already headed to the city.”
“I don’t know what to do,” said Jenel.
“There is a way into the city. And there are a group of men who have yet to see battle.”
“What way?” asked Jenel.
Max led his horse to where Jenel wanted him to meet her. He paused momentarily with that overwhelming sense of not being alone.
“You ought to learn to not sneak up on people,” said Max.
Ernayn waltzed into the open. “How do you always know it is me?”
“You project a certain aura,” replied Max. “What is it you want?”
“You should learn to have more respect for me,” said Ernayn.
Max huffed. “You may be able to scare others with your talk, but not me. I know you, Ernayn, better than you know me.”
“Here,” said Ernayn handing Max a rowan wood staff.
Max took it carefully. He inspected the wood admiring its soundness. “What is this for?”
“A wizard needs his staff,” said Ernayn. “Consider it a peace offering.”
Max eyed her suspiciously.
“I assure you it is genuine,” said Ernayn.
“Thank you,” Max said, slowly.
“Did you make good use of the stone?”
“Yes,” said Max. “I thank you for letting me borrow it.”
“And what is Jenel planning?”
“I cannot tell you. Do not give me that look. You know full well I would not be able to. But you can make yourself useful.”
“Really?” said Ernayn.
“Stop playing these games of appearing when you choose to. You know as well as I that if we lose this day, you lose as well. Nothing will stop the orcs from overrunning your home in Belyndril.”
“And what would you have me do?”
“These niht’anda have proven most troublesome. I am certain that you have the power to deal with them. Especially if you were to combine your magic with that of the fairies,” said Max.
“Such a thing has never been done before.”
“Such creatures have never been here before.”
“Why doesn’t Tesnayr use the dragons? He commands them,” said Ernayn.
“Perhaps you should ask him,” Max replied.
“I cannot,” said Ernayn, “He asked me to not follow him where he is going. He asked me to trust him.”
“Do you not trust him?”
Ernayn circled Max. “I do. I just do not understand his methods.”
“You’re not supposed to,” said Max. “You have shrouded yourself in mystery and separated yourself from the world. Perhaps you should quit trying to influence events and just let them happen.”
Max pushed past Ernayn heading for where Jenel awaited him. “Why do you trust him so much?”
“Because I know what the future holds if he wins. And I also know that no one can defeat Galbrok except for Tesnayr.”
Ernayn looked at him questioningly.
“You are not the only one whom the Stone of Elya speaks to.”
“Perhaps not,” said Ernayn.
“I do find it interesting that it chose to speak to Quesha so soon.”
“So do I.”
Max left Ernayn alone with her thoughts. He found Jenel eagerly awaiting him with a small group of men.
“You’ll leave your horse here,” she said.
Without question, Max took his weapons from the saddle and strapped them to himself. He slapped the animal’s rump to make it run away.