Chapter Seven - Whisper Stones

The next day came too soon for Adric and Gaden. They hadn’t wasted much time after Elric left them the previous night before they retired. Gaden’s cabin had been the same as Adric’s, right down to the arrangement of each bedroom. He dozed momentarily in meditation at this thought until the slamming of cabinet doors brought him back to life.

Gaden was doing laps around the room, opening doors again and again as if something would be there that hadn’t been there the first time. He gave up on the cabinets, picked up the bag Elric had brought him and sat in the nearest chair.

“Maybe there’s some food in this bag,” he said. Adric too picked up his bag and went through it. One thing was for sure. There was no food in these bags. Inside was a pair of black military pants, some black boots, and a long-sleeved red tunic. Adric sighed heavily when he noticed both sides of the collar on his tunic bore four stars as Thale’s had, except his were more like two gold bars with the four stars inlaid on the bar. Gaden’s collar bore no demarcation of rank at all.

Gaden held the shirt up to himself sizing it up. He folded the shirt neatly and laid it over the back of another chair along with the pants and placed the boots beside them on the floor.

Adric opened the bag again and found only one more item. It was a neatly folded envelope with a wax seal. He picked it up and examined it. It was not marked at all. Curious, he opened it and unfolded its contents.

Adric,

Please excuse the informality, I had an urgent issue to see to. I’ve sent you a uniform. You should have a red tunic, black pants, black boots, and your ring. The ring represents your royalty. The elite members each have similar rings. Also, you are scheduled to meet Elric at the citadel entrance in the morning. He and his team will escort you back to Eladin for anything you may need.

-Thale

Adric immediately started going back through his bag. Sure enough, there was a tiny black box wedged in the bottom that he had not seen before. He opened it. Inside was a gold ring with a bright red ruby set in the middle. Around the ruby was set many tiny diamonds. He tried it on the ring finger of his right hand. It fit snuggly, but it wasn’t too tight. He put the ring back in the box and placed it on the table.

“Do you think Elric is waiting on us?” Adric asked him.

“Well if he’s not, he will be soon. I do know that Haela will be waiting on me, and if I show up with a band of Alldelan soldiers, I’m likely to be single by the morning. Can you imagine? She doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. I mean, sure, she knows I’m away with you, but she isn’t expecting anything like this. What do they expect? Do they think I’m just going to pack up my things and move to Aelwynn?”

“They probably expect me to,” Adric said, perturbed about everyone’s expectations of him to assume the throne.

“I say let’s go on. They’ll know where to find us. I don’t need an escort to go back home, and I don’t want one, either.”

“You’re right,” Adric said. He was glad Gaden took this view, and he stood up. “Actually, before we go,” Adric pulled his bag off his back and rummaged until he found the whisper stones. “I should have given you one of these earlier. I didn’t think about it. But this isn’t over yet, I want us to stay in touch,” Adric said, handing a stone to Gaden.

“Oh, good thinking,” Gaden said, and took it from Adric. They gathered the few things that did belong to them and made for the door. As Adric neared the door, he remembered the key that Daea had brought him. He turned around, picked it up, and they left.

They walked in silence back up the staircase seeking the way out. They soon entered the grand circular room with the endless staircases. Adric couldn’t resist the urge to peer over the rail into the infinite depths of the room. Hundreds of people were pushing their way through the rooms below. Adric wondered just how many people lived here. He was used to his home city of Eladin, where the city lay outdoors, made up of many buildings and streets where the city officials would decorate its lamps and building fronts to match the seasons. He missed the smells of all the bakers’ goods wafting between the corridors and onto the streets. This seemed to be the inverse of such a theme.

“I can’t imagine having to carve this out,” Gaden said.

“Not just carving it,” Adric said. “Think of all the designing and planning it took,” Adric said, and then they heard footsteps and someone calling out to them.

“Adric, Gaden, excellent, I was just on my way down to meet you.” Adric turned and saw Elric striding toward them.

“We won’t be going alone, then,” Gaden whispered, then put on a big, false smile. They shook hands.

“The rest of our group is just outside.” Elric motioned for them to follow him. They continued walking to the nearest staircase. They climbed and exited the building. Outside, stood their escort, Elric and his son Avan, Ivar and his son Oneas, Verrik the field marshal, and the lieutenant of civilian affairs, Garrin. There were two wagons pulled by horses. One would be for Adric, and the other for Gaden.

“Adric, you’ll be going with Verrik, Garrin, and me. Gaden, you’ll be going with Avan, Ivar, and Oneas,” Elric informed them.

“Is that really necessary?” Gaden said.

“We can’t be too careful, can we?” Avan said.

“Careful of what?” Gaden sounded annoyed at being addressed in this manner by Elric’s son Their rivalry that had begun in Karina’s yard probably wasn’t helping.

“Gaden, remember what nearly happened to you at the library. We can’t take that risk, again,” Elric said.

“But, why am I so important. Go with Adric.”

“Gaden, you were directly targeted by Rhodhinia, and very likely by Roman himself,” Elric went on. “What if you were ambushed again on the way back? What if they have found their way to your home?”

“Think of what my wife is going to say when I turn up with all of you.”

“That’s enough of that, Gaden. We’ve all been given orders.” A sharp voice Adric didn’t recognize came from the man to his left. It was the lieutenant, Garrin. Gaden turned to Adric.

“You’re their king. Tell them to let us handle it.” At this, Elric looked alarmed. What would happen if Adric sided with Gaden and he did decide to give them an order?

“I think it’s best if we just let them go with us. If they do know more than we do, then maybe it’s best if we trust their judgment.” Gaden looked unconvinced. “For now,” Adric added, as an afterthought.

“Well said.” Elric clapped Adric on the back. “Let’s be off.” Adric mounted Ylandyr and rode into the sun. But not before Gaden could be heard mumbling,

“Yeah… well said, indeed,” he cut Adric a look out the corner of his eye.

The ride from Aelwynn to Eladin was not the quickest. They rode east with the Socerian mountain ranges to their left. The fortunate thing about the trip was that it comprised mostly of traversing wide-open plains. The horses were able to ride fast, very little slowed them down. They did make one long stop to allow the horses to rest and drink as they crossed Standafal Creek which ran from Thendor River to the west of Aelwynn and connected with the South Sea deep into the southern territories of Alldel. Eventually, they did begin to see the city of Eladin on the horizon. As they approached the city, Elric nodded to Avan, and the two parties split ways. They rode through the center of town, and before long, Adric was tying Ylandyr to a fence post in front of his cottage.

“I’ve always loved this city.” Elric smiled, and they followed him inside.

Adric’s guard was a very helpful group, and with time, Adric found them to be pleasant company as well. They helped him gather everything he would need. Adric decided to leave all of the furniture since the cabin was so well equipped already, and since he also did not plan to make Aelwynn his permanent residence. He did, however, grab his sword, which was hung on the sitting room wall. He had made this sword at the smithy in his free time. It was a cherished possession, but now it would serve a purpose as well. While his guard was loading all the items into the wagon, he slipped away to his closet and moved all his information from previous journeys into a separate bag. It was at this time that he felt something growing hot in his right pocket. Remembering the whisper stone, he pulled it out and looked at the surface. Gaden had indeed traced a message. After reading it, Adric couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

“Haela is pleased. She can’t wait.” No doubt Gaden wanted to say more but didn’t have room on the stone. Adric wiped the message clean from the surface so Gaden would know he had received it. He put it back in his pocket and continued packing. He wasn’t surprised. Haela was always complaining about their house in Eladin. It was old and in desperate need of repair. She also never favored Eladin, though Adric never knew why. It took them the better part of the afternoon to gather everything Adric wanted to take with him. Once the wagon was loaded, and there was nothing else Adric wanted to take, he spoke.

“You’ve been very helpful. Let’s eat before we get back on the way.” There was some mild protesting at the thought of Adric serving them, but after insisting, they allowed Adric to prepare a meal.

He was moving around the kitchen at his own pace, cleaning a chicken, chopping vegetables, and pressing wine from the grapes. Garrin, though stern, turned out to be quite experienced in the kitchen and helped Adric prepare the meal. Before too long, Adric found his table surround by the most elite Alldelan soldiers. He found it enjoyable to sit and visit with the guard. He hadn’t expected socialization with them to come so easily. They seemed like ordinary men to him, though why this surprised him, he was not sure. And then, sometime through the course of the meal, Adric felt his pocket grow hot, yet again. It startled him for a moment, but then, thinking Gaden was probably just babbling on about the day, he ignored it for a few seconds, passing a basket down the table.

“Have another slice of bread,” he said to Verrik, then reached into his pocket and pulled out the ruby. The words were almost illegible. They had been written in such haste, he almost couldn’t read it. He felt his heart rate increasing. Holding it inconspicuously in his lap, he flipped the stone over to read it from the other side.

Attack. Lake.

Adric began to think frantically. Elric was heaving with laughter from a joke Verrik had just told. It was odd sitting here casually, watching the others laughing while he knew there was trouble, though they did not.

“You’re not serious. I can’t see Thale doing something like that.” Verrik tore off another piece of bread.

“Believe it,” Verrik said. Was Gaden serious? The lake wasn’t exactly in sight of the city so nobody will have seen them.

“I’m telling you, I was there. I saw him throw it right at Lady Narda,” Verrik had given up trying to eat. He couldn’t swallow through his laughter.

“But he didn’t tell us.” Garrin chuckled.

“Why should he? Would you tell?” Elric said.

“No, probably not.” Verrik allowed himself a breath trying to calm himself. What if they couldn’t get there in time? And why were they just sitting here?

“Adric?” Garrin stopped laughing at once. “Adric, what’s wrong?”

“I…” He thought for a moment. If he told him what he knew, they would ask him how he knew. “I’m not sure. I think Gaden might be in trouble.”

“Nonsense.” Verrik shook his head and tore off another handful of bread. “Adric,” Verrik smacked his lips, and wiped his mouth with a napkin, “Gaden is with Avan, he’ll be fine,” he said through a mouthful.

“No, I’m telling you, Gaden is in trouble. They all are,” Adric rose from his chair. A sense of urgency was overwhelming him.

“Adric…” Elric started, but Adric cut him off, throwing caution to the wind. Gaden’s life wasn’t worth this secrecy; nor were the lives of his guard.

“They’re by the lake, they need help! We have to go, now!” Adric pocketed the stone and ran to the door to grab his sword.

“But, how can you know that?” Elric asked. Adric paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and faced them defiantly.

“You have your secrets, right? Well, I have mine, and I am giving you a direct order,” he said, not sure if it held any weight or not. “We must ride to the lake. You will come with me, and you will not ask me any questions. Is that understood?” Verrik and Garrin looked at Elric for instruction. Technically, Adric wasn’t their king, yet, which meant he had no authority. Elric thought, but only for a second, before he stood, looked at them, and said,

“You heard the king.” Then he swung his pack onto his back and made for the horses outside.

“We’ll leave the wagon here. We can send for it later.” Adric mounted Ylandyr. “You can follow me.” Adric drew his sword and kicked Ylandyr forward.

Wind swept his cloak out behind him. He could smell the bakeries. He could hear the townsfolk talking, laughing, and haggling, not a care in the world bothered them. Meanwhile, what was happening to Gaden and his family, his guard, for they were bound to be with him.

Adric weaved between buildings and dodged around the fountain in the center of town. He patted Ylandyr on the neck as she bolted masterfully around the obstacles the big city offered her. Townsfolk gasped in horror as he passed between them, nearly knocking over a group of older women.

“Make way!” He shouted. Ylandyr’s hooves clacked loudly against the stone walkway as she sprinted through the town center. He passed Cuthbert’s Pub, where Cuthbert could be heard outside shouting,

“Keep them things out o’my pub, and out o’my sight!” He thought of all the stories he would be telling about the person he threw from his pub. The lake was not far, now. They topped a hill, and the lake could be seen from a distance.

“Go! Go, go!” He urged Ylandyr forward. There was a gathering of people along the edge of the lake. Elric and Verrik overtook him. They wanted to protect their king. Grand marshal and field marshal came together to provide him the best protection Alldel could offer. Glad they believed him, Adric chose not to argue.

As they neared, the figures came into focus. Adric was horrified when he saw Gaden and Avan with their bows raised, and arrows nocked, Oneas brandished a long sword with a black handle, and Ivar was lying on the ground by the lake. And then Adric saw the worst sight he had ever seen. His stomach clenched as he saw them. He stared at them in disbelieving horror. What were they? They were like leather covered skeletons with their greasy hair in ropes. Their voices, like wet sand against stone, made his skin crawl as they howled to the sky around them. Three of them lay on the ground as still as Ivar. Three more stood with swords raised.

As they approached, Verrik bypassed the fight and ran to Ivar’s aid. Elric leaped from his horse before the horse had even come to a stop. Garrin followed him. One of the beings side-stepped an arrow from Gaden’s bow as though it were a leaf falling casually from a tree. Gaden quickly nocked another and took careful aim. Elric was flawless. He charged the being down and matched him step for step with his own sword. Adric trusted that he would be okay and targeted one himself. But there was no need. The being thrust his sword forward and let out a bellow of rotten scream as spit flew from his lips. He ran toward Adric, bolting across the field with supernatural speed.

Adric was ready. He had practiced day in and day out with this very sword; this sword that he, himself forged in the fires of his own furnaces. He grasped his sword with both hands. This was just another practice session, he told himself. He blocked every strike the creature made. He had never seen anything like it. He was humanoid, but he couldn’t be alive. The beast ducked and spun around on the spot. His greasy hair whipped Adric across the face and he stumbled momentarily. The creature took advantage of Adric’s misfortune and spun. As the being came around, Adric saw the flash of a silver blade. He held out his own sword just in time to feel a jolt of the shoulder as his sword took the blow that was intended for his neck. But he paid for his momentary loss of balance as his sword fell from his hands and onto the ground below.

Adric hit the ground and rolled over. Spitting the grainy taste of lake-washed mud out of his mouth, he stretched out his hand to take hold of his weapon. The being raised his sword and brought it down hard at Adric’s gut, but Adric was faster. With one gloved hand clenched around the handle and the other pressed firmly against the flat side of the blade, he braced for the strike. The being, though skeletal, was filled with incredible strength. He pushed Adric firmly against the muddy earth. Adric could feel the wet ground hugging his back, sucking him in. The blade, pressed hard against him, was beginning to cut into either side of his gloves. He had to get control of the situation.

Adric curled his legs underneath himself, willing himself to push back against the creature. With a mighty shout, and a burst of adrenaline, he shoved the creature back. It stumbled on the uneven, swampy ground and fell backward. Adric ran at him, blade poised to strike. But before he could complete his move, the being sprang to its feet faster than Adric had ever seen anyone or anything move before. The creature, enraged, charged at Adric. Adric braced himself. He held out his weapon, ready to strike. But just as the being came within striking distance, he suddenly fell flat on his face into the mud. One arrow was lodged firmly in its spine.

Adric looked up to see Gaden, the accomplished hunter, standing resolute, an empty bow pointed right at him. He looked down at the creature. It began to twitch, its arms quivering, its legs trying to bend. Without thinking about the necessity of the deed, Adric raised his sword to the heavens and brought it down sharply, dislodging the creature from its own head with a brief, but distinct, crunch and the creature moved no more. Adric stared down at his attacker, the rush of triumph coursing through him.

A firm hand started brushing dirt off Adric’s back. He turned to find Elric smiling at him.

“You alright?” He asked Adric.

“I’m fine,” Adric said, winded. “How’s Ivar?”

“Ivar will make it. He took an arrow to the shoulder. He won’t be fighting again for a while, but he will get to go home. He will be honored. He was injured in service to the king.” For once, Adric did not argue about the situation at Elric’s mention of service to the king. Ivar deserved to be honored. “Gaden is waiting for you,” Elric said and pointed to Gaden. Adric allowed himself to be steered toward the lake. Gaden met him halfway.

“Are you alright?” Gaden asked, exasperated.

“I’m fine, thanks to you.”

“That was some shot,” Elric said.

“He had his back to me, it was nothing,” Gaden said.

“That was not nothing; a target moving that fast…” Avan pressed on. Gaden simply shrugged.

“Elric took on two of those things on his own; he told me to keep an eye on you at all times and to take a shot as soon as I got one. He wouldn’t let me help him at all. It was all we could do to take them down one at a time, but Elric took on two of them alone. Anyway, I’m glad you got my message. We would have been dead if you hadn’t made it.”

“What were those things?” Adric asked. Gaden looked at Elric.

“I was hoping you could tell us,” Elric said.

“No. I’ve never seen them before. They are incredibly fast though.”

“And strong,” Avan said. Adric nodded in agreement. “One of them grabbed Oneas by the arm and threw him about twenty feet.” Adric looked at Oneas, who seemed to be as big as Gaden.

“How is he?” Adric asked.

“He’ll be fine. He just got winded. Anyway, you won’t believe this. We may not know what they are, but we do know where they came from. We were riding along the lake here and we heard screaming. Oneas turned around and saw Karina running our way.”

“Karina?” Adric interrupted. “But where…”

“She’s fine, actually. We sent Karina and Gaden’s family ahead with the horses.” Adric only just noticed that the other horses were missing. “Anyway, she managed to get away somehow and was running for Eladin when she spotted us. Roman must have sent these things to bring her back,” Avan pointed aimlessly at the pile of dismembered creatures they had just thwarted.

“Typical,” Elric said. “Roman doesn’t know how to do anything on his own.”

“Good thing, too. Without Thale here, Roman would have made sport of us all,” Verrik added.

“So, I suppose you didn’t take the time to talk to her?” Garrin asked. Adric only just noticed that he was no longer wearing a shirt. He had a rugged gut, great muscles protruded from behind the black hair that covered his chest.

“No, these things were right on her tail when she made it to us. We sent them on, and that’s when they hit Ivar. To be fair, Ivar was trying to get Karina on her way. It was a cheap shot.” Ivar stood there with Garrin’s shirt wrapped tightly around his wound. “We just weren’t ready for them.” For once, Elric’s face was somber.

“I’m glad you’re all okay. It certainly could have been worse.”

“It would have been if you hadn’t shown up when you did. How did you know to come find us?”

“That was Adric’s idea.” Elric started. Adric braced for the question. He caught Gaden’s eye, and with a meaningful glance, warned him not to answer. But as it turned out, it wasn’t necessary.

“Adric heard screaming from the village and insisted we come to help.” Elric lied. He did not look in Adric’s direction. Adric was grateful and pleased that Gaden picked up on the story so quickly.

“Well, we’re glad you came, anyway. But we need to be getting back to Aelwynn. I sent my ring with Haela. I told her to give it to the guards and to send help. They’ll be worried.” Adric looked at Avan’s finger and saw that there was no ring.

“Good work,” Elric embraced his son. Adric could see the command of lieutenant in Avan’s reactions. He was talented, and very much like his father. “Alright, let’s head back to Adric’s house for the wagon. A couple of you can ride back in the wagon when we get there. We also left a mess that needs to be cleaned before we go.” Elric led the way, and they all followed him back into town.