Toby Neighbors: Crying Havoc

“Either way, we can’t let that happen,” Zollin said. “We could sneak out of the city. I can get us across the river.”

“That’s only a short-term solution,” said Quinn. “We need to think this through.”

“We don’t have much time. It’ll be dawn soon. And the King told me he’s planning to start negotiations at dawn.”

“But Commander Hausey was returning with a message for the King when he woke me up.”

“What are you saying?”

“I think whatever the King is up to, he’s already at it. He may have been working on it before you even came to see him.”

Zollin was frightened. He didn’t like intrigue; it was foreign to him. He had always been an honest person by nature, and dealing with someone who wasn’t intimidated him. He realized the only way to discover what the King was doing would be to play along.

“I’ll have to fake it,” Zollin said. “I’m supposed to join the King at dawn. He asked me to give him counsel in the negotiations. Whatever he’s got planned, I’ll just have to play along until they unfold.”

“But by then it might be too late,” Quinn said. “I don’t like it.”

“We don’t have a choice. If things get out of hand, you’ll have to help, but don’t do anything that could get you hurt. I don’t want you taking any more chances on my behalf.”

“Zollin, you’re my son. I would die if it would save you. That’s just the way it is. When you have children someday you’ll understand that.”

“I doubt that I’ll live long enough to have children.”

“Don’t say that. We’re going to get out of this. What if we just confront the King? There’s nothing he can do to you.”

“No,” Zollin said, “but he might do something to you. Besides, we don’t know how deep this deception goes. For all we know, he may have surrendered the city. The castle could be surrounded by enemy troops right now.”

“So who do we trust?” Quinn said.

“Commander Hausey, maybe. I just don’t know.”

“What about Mansel?” Quinn said.

“What about him? He tried to kill you, dad. He killed Kelvich. He killed Kelvich and I didn’t even know it. I was so busy chasing the damn dragon that I let Kelvich die and I didn’t suspect a thing.”

“You couldn’t have known that Mansel would do something like that. Mansel has been under a terrible curse. When I was under the spell I was planning on handing you over to the witch. I doubt Mansel even knew what he was doing.”

“That doesn’t make it okay that he murdered Kelvich,” Zollin said, his voice rising.

“No, it doesn’t,” Quinn said in a calming tone. “And I doubt that Mansel will be able to forgive himself once he realizes what he’s done.”

“Why do you always take his side?” Zollin said. He could feel the old resentments and jealousies that had plagued him in Tranaugh Shire rising to the surface once more. “I’m sorry I’m not like him, but I’m your son. He’s just your apprentice.”

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Quinn said patiently. “I’m not excusing Mansel and I’m not taking his side. He threw me overboard in the Great Sea and all I had was a wooden bucket to keep me from drowning. He has a lot to answer for, but when he threw me overboard, the shock somehow broke the witch’s spell. Maybe almost dying did the trick for him. If it did, then we may have an ally that no one knows about and that we know we can trust.”

“But how can we know that the spell’s broken? How can we really trust him?”

“It’s easy,” Quinn said. “If he can say anything bad about the witch, we’ll know her hold on him is broken. When you’re under her power, nothing seems important except being with her. If he’s still in her power, he won’t say anything negative about her, or let us say anything.”

“All right, let’s go. But we need to be careful. I don’t want to lose you, dad. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Zollin. I’m incredibly proud of you. We’ll figure this out together, okay?”

Zollin nodded and the hurried from the room. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and only the servants seemed to be moving around the castle. They made it back down to the sick room without being questioned. Inside, Zollin lit a lamp so they could see. Commander Corlis and Mansel were still asleep.

“Wake him up,” Zollin whispered.

Quinn shook Mansel and said his name in a whisper by the big warrior’s ear. Mansel’s eyes fluttered open. He looked at Quinn and the shame on his face was plain to see. Tears welled up in the warrior’s eyes.

“Are you all right?” Mansel asked.

“Yes, I’m fine, thanks to Zollin,” Quinn said.

Mansel looked at Zollin, and the wall that held back his grief broke. He sobbed quietly. Zollin was surprised. He had never expected to see Mansel cry.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Oh, God, I killed Kelvich. Oh, no.”

“Pull yourself together,” Zollin whispered. “We’ve got trouble and we need your help.”

“What you did was terrible, but you were under the witch’s spell,” Quinn said. “She’s a vile bitch, that one. She deserves to burn in hell.”

Quinn was looking at Zollin when he spoke, and they both looked at Mansel.

“I was a fool,” he said. “I would have done anything for her. How is that possible, Quinn?”

“Magic is powerful,” Zollin said. “And we need to be sure the spell is broken, Mansel. I need to hear you denounce her.”

“Denounce her? I’ll kill her if I ever see her again, even if it means my own death. She can’t be allowed to go on. There’s no telling what she can do, Zollin.”

“We’ll deal with her when we can, but first we have a situation here.”

“What sort of situation?” Mansel said.

“We’re in Orrock; did you know that?” Quinn asked him.

“Yes, I remember everything,” he said bitterly, as if the words were acid in his mouth.

“Then you know there’s an army laying siege to the city,” Zollin said.

“And I think there’s a plot against Zollin,” Quinn said.

“What are we going to do?” Mansel said.

“Play along for now,” Zollin said. “But I need you to watch Quinn’s back.”

“I will. I won’t let anyone near him.”

“All right, good. Give me a little time. I’m supposed to meet with the King soon. I’ll be pretending to be drugged. I want you guys ready to move at a moment’s notice. Don’t worry about me, just make sure you get out of the city safe, if you have to.”

“All right. And Zollin, I’m sorry.”

Anger fought with sympathy inside Zollin as he looked at Mansel. He could see the contrition on Mansel’s face, but it didn’t bring Kelvich back. The old sorcerer had been Zollin’s mentor and a good friend. The thought of Kelvich dying with strangers was incredibly painful, but he didn’t have time to grieve. He’d made that mistake with Brianna, and it had cost Kelvich his life. He didn’t want anyone else to die because of his anger or rage. He put it from his mind and nodded.

“Just stay safe,” Zollin said.

* * *

Commander Corlis lay as still as possible. His eyes were closed, but he heard every word that was spoken. He knew that Zollin suspected the King of foul play and that he intended to go along with the King until he knew what was happening. Corlis wasn’t sure what he should do. If he went to the King, Zollin would be in danger, and Corlis was fond of Zollin. He had hoped they might become friends, but his first duty was to his King.

He had to figure out a way to get to the King without arousing suspicion that he was privy to Zollin’s plans. When Zollin hurried from the room, Corlis had hoped that Mansel and Quinn would follow, but they decided staying put was their best option. Corlis waited, impatiently. He knew he needed to convince Quinn and Mansel that he was just waking up and hadn’t heard their plans, but he also knew the longer he waited, the more time he was giving Zollin to betray the King.