Wayne Batson - The Rise of the Wrym Lord

At last! she thought. And for a moment she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“The most wondrous city in all The Realm,” a deep voice said behind her. She turned to see a tall, dark-haired knight. As he bowed low he said, “I am Kaliam, the fourth Sentinel of Alleble.”

“I’m Antoinette,” she managed to say. She felt slightly intimidated by this knight’s size-he stood more than a foot taller than she. But at the same time, his smile and bearing radiated warmth, and Antoinette saw welcome in his eyes.

“Well-met,” Kaliam said, and he laughed. “Though it seems strange to say we have just met. Gwenne’s armor fits you well.”

Antoinette blushed, surprising herself. He looked like a hero who had stepped out of a grand painting.

“You are a friend of Sir Aidan’s?” he asked.

Antoinette nodded. “Yes, we met recently. And he helped me to understand that King Eliam was calling me here.”

“Sir Aidan is a hero of this realm, a Knight of the Dawn. His Glimpse-kind, Sir Aelic, has carried Aidan’s mantle well-just as, I am sure, you will carry Gwenne’s.”

“I’ll do my best,” Antoinette replied. It was quiet for a few moments, and then Antoinette said, “Aidan told me all about you and the others-Mallik, Nock, Tal, Farix. It’s amazing to finally meet you. Will I meet the others?”

“In time,” Kaliam answered.

“Oh, and Aidan told me to tell you not to say anything about the lantern spider incident. What’s that all about?”

Kaliam’s eyes flickered blue and he let out a howl of laughter. “M’lady,” he said, clutching his sides, “with your pardon, I will,.. . honor Sir Aidan’s request!”

Kaliam finally mastered his fit of laughter. “There are two reasons I required you to meet me here,” he said. “But let us take one moment to admire the view. Aside from the Library Tower, this is the best view of the kingdom. I wanted you to see the kingdom-as it always should be-at peace. I fear Alleble will not remain at peace for much longer.”

Antoinette knew why, and she looked to the west and stared.

“Yes, our enemy lies there,” said Kaliam, and a shadow seemed to pass over his face. “Paragor has not been idle since Aidan left The Realm. Something has changed in his designs, and we do not yet know what it is. But it seems his influence in The Realm is waxing, for city after city has allied itself with Paragory. If our estimates be correct, Paragor now commands an immense army nearly equal to our forces here.”

“What about Mithegard and the other allies?” Antoinette asked.

Kaliam looked at her gravely. “That is our greatest concern, Antoinette. Mithegard remains loyal, and with the help of Mallik’s folk from the Blue Mountains, the Seven Towers are nearly rebuilt. But there have been troubling reports from many of Alleble’s allies. Acacia, Clarion, and most recently Yewland have sent word that they may renounce our alliance.”

“Why?” Antoinette asked.

“They claim that our new taxes are too severe,” answered Kaliam. “They say that the Alleb Creed we impose is too strict. They threaten even to depose the governors we have sent.” Kaliam gripped the balcony wall so tightly that his knuckles cracked. “But, Antoinette, we have sent no governors to our allies, we have levied no taxes, and there is no such thing as an Alleb Creed!”

“Is Paragor behind it?” Antoinette asked.

“He must be,” said Kaliam. “We do not know how he could cause these things, but we intend to find out. We leave for Yewland in three days. I have determined to meet with one of these so-called governors!”

“You said we. Does that mean I’m coming on this mission?”

“Yes, Antoinette,” Kaliam answered. He cocked an eyebrow and grinned. “You will become the Twelfth Knight on this journey-if you pass our tests.”

“Tests?” Antoinette swallowed.

Kaliam nodded. “This mission is pressing, and there is no time to train you properly. Among reasons known only to him, King Eliam chose you because you already have some skills. You have held a sword before?”

“I can do more than hold it,” Antoinette said bluntly. She grinned.

“And you can ride?”

“I ride horses very well,” she said. “But Aidan told me you ride unicorns.”

Kaliam laughed. “They are nearly the same, only unicorns are smarter and faster. I suppose then, you should pass your first two tests quite easily. But, ah, the third-well, now, that might be another matter. We shall see.”

Antoinette waited for Kaliam to explain. But he did not. He turned and walked to the center of the balcony. There, something lay hidden under a beautiful silk tapestry.

“I told you there were two reasons I wanted you to meet me here. The first was to discuss the objective of your mission. The other is to show you… this!” With an effortless tug, he removed the tapestry, revealing a rectangular block of white marble. It was chest high, but its length and width were like that of a tomb.

Antoinette approached. She ran a hand along the length, and Kaliam watched her carefully. “I know this,” she said. “It is the altar where Paragor killed the King.”

“You have read the account of the Great Betrayal?” Kaliam asked.

“Yes.”

“Is there anything more you recall when you look upon it?” Kaliam’s eyes narrowed. He seemed hesitant, searching for but hoping not to find something to confirm what he suspected.

“Wait,” Antoinette said slowly. “I remember something.”

Kaliam closed his eyes and turned away. “What do you remember?”

“I saw this,” she replied, gesturing to the altar, “in a vision when I walked between my world and The Realm. But at first it was somewhere else. It was in a cell or a crypt. I think it was underground.”

“You saw visions between our worlds?” he asked, his deep voice reduced to a hoarse whisper.

“Yes,” she replied. “Aidan told me I would. He saw visions too. Some of them came true when he was here.”

“They are foretellings,” Kaliam said. “Sights of what may come to pass. Captain Valithor was very aware of Aidan’s visions. They troubled him greatly near the end, for not all who travel between realms see such visions. I too am troubled, but I will not speak now of what I fear. I must first visit the Library of Light. And then I will go to the King himself, for his wisdom has no end.”

Antoinette swallowed. “Sir Kaliam, there’s something else. In the vision, this altar faded from the tomb and reappeared on this balcony, I think. It was at night, so it was hard to tell. But suddenly, a dark stone that fell from the sky smashed the altar. Then many stones began to fall. I saw one of them close up, and there was something written on it, written in red.”

Kaliam glanced to the west. “There is meaning in that also,” he said, almost to himself. “Please, promise that you will not speak of these visions to anyone besides Aelic and me. There are many in Alleble who would make more of it than they ought.”

Antoinette nodded. “I… I won’t,” she replied, suddenly feeling very nervous.

“Come, then, your first test awaits-that is, if you are ready.”

“Lead on, Sir Kaliam. I am ready.”

Kaliam’s demeanor brightened, and he laughed. “Such like a younger Gwenne you are!”

T his is the Training Urchin,” Kaliam said. He walked in a slow circle around the device in the center of the castle’s southern courtyard. The urchin was a tall post with three segments that turned independently of the others. Wooden arms, each equipped with its own weapon or shield, protruded from the segments. Kaliam walked behind it and smiled.