Richard Knaak - The Citadel

“Mistress, thank you.”

“Please don’t thank me,” she returned, although a slight bit of pride touched her. “I’m but a vessel for the Bard King.”

Stone clearly did not see the distinction. If the power came through Serene, then she had to be the one to thank.

“Cleric is greater than Master,” he replied.

Greater? If true, then she would not be trapped here, helpless, while Valkyn and his citadel literally rained down destruction upon the Ergothians. Even Rapp had seen her as less than an asset when it had come to mounting a rescue of Tyros.

And yet she had helped Stone gain his new wings. Of course, that had been in great part due to the Bard King, who, though his greatest spheres of influence lay over the forest and weather, also watched over animals, which apparently included gargoyles. If only …

“The weather …” Serene suddenly murmured. “The weather …”

The cleric glanced outside, where the unnatural storm had begun to blow in earnest. If Valkyn had not already struck at the defenders of Gwynned, he would in the next few moments.

“Branchala, please forgive me for the madness I’m about to ask of you.” She considered the gargoyle. “Stone, please close the hallway doors.” Serene couldn’t afford to be disturbed. “Stone, is your flock willing to fight for their freedom?”

A look of great anticipation spread across the monstrous features. “Yes … oh, yesss …”

“If I succeed at what I’m about to attempt, they must be ready to do so. However, I must first make you promise that they’ll also watch out for my friends.”

“Will do that.”

Serene looked around. She hated sending the gargoyle away, but he needed to spread the word. Still, with Valkyn busy, the cleric hoped to have time to complete her plan before anyone realized she was responsible. “You’d better go now. May the blessing of the Bard King be with you, Stone.”

“Have wings again,” the creature replied. He gave the cleric one last appreciative look, then trotted out to the balcony. Serene watched in admiration as the gargoyle spread his new wings. Stone dived from the rail, then soared into the air.

“And now it’s up to you and me, Branchala.” Seating herself on the bed once more, Serene took up the same position she had earlier. If the music came when her fingers played, the cleric would know that she had a chance to succeed … which did not mean that she would. Even the Bard King would only do so much for her. “But this is for more than just me, my lord.”

Serene began to strum the air, at first hearing nothing. Yet when she started to sing softly, tender notes accompanied her. As her voice found strength, those notes increased in strength, too. The woodland god was with her … so far.

The cleric turned her gaze to the baleful storm and sang louder.

* * * * *

“Hold your ranks, damn it!” Zander roared as the first missiles struck. “Hold them together!”

The officers did their best to keep the lines intact and in position, but the wizard’s primitive battle plan kept the frontlines too much in the open and too large a target. Zander would have realigned most of the left flank, but any alteration had been forbidden. He had to make do with what Valkyn allowed, however murderous that turned out to be.

“Can we fly now?” Eclipse snapped. “They come too close!”

For once, Zander had to agree with him. “All right. Take to the air!”

With clear relief, the black leviathan leaped into the sky, nearly unseating Zander from his back in the process. The young officer made no remark, though, more interested in what happened below. From the sky, the situation looked more bleak than he had thought. Gwynned’s forces had arranged themselves to the best tactical advantage, with catapults positioned on well-defended hills that gave them a view of his entire army. Archers set lower down on the hills made certain that those who avoided the missiles ran straight into their deadly fire, after which cavalry harassed the survivors. Zander’s men were open targets no matter where they were, and it was a wonder he had managed to keep them from routing. It looked like certain victory for the Ergothians.

Thunder rumbled, causing Zander to smile for the first time. Certain victory … if not for the flying citadel.

Those manning the two catapults situated on a hill to the southwest likely never knew what hit them. The first bolt, a massive, jagged monster, flew unerringly toward its unwitting target. One moment, the men and their weapons stood untouched. The next … nothing but shattered bits and smoke remained.

Zander laughed, admiring the mage’s handiwork. Eclipse joined in the mirth, ever pleased to see others suffer.

“We attack?” the dragon cried.

“No, we hold back. This hour belongs to Valkyn!” And he was welcome to it. There would be plenty for Zander’s men to do once Castle Atriun had destroyed the defenders.

“I see the gold!” hissed Eclipse. “Look there!”

The gold dragon moved along the ground just beyond the hills, harrying the advance troops still caught out in the open. Zander studied the beast, noticing the ruined wings. “He can’t fly.”

“Good! The better to kill. I want to kill!” Battle would keep the ebony dragon from thinking about his twin.

A second and third bolt struck.

The first of the pair tore apart more of the catapults, leaving a blackened hole and mangled bodies. The second wreaked still more havoc on the Ergothian troops. As Zander watched, a fourth lightning bolt struck behind the defenders’ front lines, forcing many of the Ergothians out into the open. Two more quick and deadly strikes behind them sent the startled warriors directly into the waiting arms of the invaders.

“Now!” Zander shouted. “Now!”

His men couldn’t hear him, of course, but the officers on the ground nonetheless took advantage of the chaos, setting their troops loose on the desperate defenders. Valkyn’s plan had worked. Already Gwynned’s front lines were in disarray. Zander nodded in satisfaction as the first swords of both armies met, the clash audible even from this high vantage point.

Only Eclipse found no satisfaction with events. A thousand men might die, but the dragon only had eyes for one thing.

“I want the gold male!”

Zander considered. With Atriun striking with the power of the storm, nothing could stand in the way of the invaders. Yes, it was time for a little glory of his own.

“All right,” Zander shouted, drawing his sword. “We’ll take the golden male, but I command the attack!”

“So long as I taste his blood and feel his death!”

The black dragon dived, roaring. Sunfire looked skyward, saw the danger, and roared his own challenge.

The battle began in earnest.

Rapp heard thunder again, followed by the renewed screams of Tyros. The kender paced the area before the infernal device, frantic with frustration.

From Tyros, he had learned that, unlike the manacles holding Stone, Valkyn had set these to kill anyone who tried to open them without his authority. After Tyros had so readily freed his friend Leot, the other wizard had decided not to take any more chances.

Despite all his lockpicks, Rapp could do nothing. Even Tyros himself didn’t have an answer.

The screaming subsided. The captive mage shook his head and, with tears streaming down, shouted, “Rapp, listen to me! One choice!”

“You’ve thought of something?” The kender’s eyes widened in hope.

“K-Kill me, Rapp. It’s the … the only way!”

Rapp looked at him in shock. “But I can’t do that!” It was one thing to hunt an animal for food or fight one of Valkyn’s undead servants, but to slay a friend, even for the sake of others … “I can’t!”