Dragonlance 15 - Dragons Of A Fallen Sun (69 page)

but these guards were alert, not dozing. They came to attention

when the king approached.

"Your Majesty," said one, moving as if to block his way. "For-

give me, Sire, but General Konnal has given orders that he is not

to be disturbed."

Silvan gazed long at the man, then said, "Tell the general he

will be disturbed. His king is here to disturb him."

Silvan enjoyed watching the struggle on the guard's face. The

elf had his orders from Konnal, yet here stood his king before

him. The guard had a choice to make. He looked at the pale eyes

and set jaw of the young king and saw in them the blood line that

had ruled Silvanesti for generations. This guard was an older

man, perhaps he had served under Lorac. Perhaps he recognized

that pale fire. The guard bowed with respect, and, throwing open

the doors, announced in firm tones, "His Majesty, the King."

Konnal looked up in amazement. Glaucous's expression was

one of astonishment at first, but that swiftly changed to secret

pleasure. Perhaps he, too, had been waiting the day when the lion

would tear free of his chains. Bowing, Glaucous cast a glance at

Silvan that said plainly, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am

under the general's control."

"Your Majesty, to what do we owe this honor?" Konnal asked,

highly irritated at the interruption. He had obviously received

some unsettling news for his face was flushed, his brows con-

tracted. He had to struggle to maintain a show of politeness, and

then his voice was cold. Glaucous was disturbed by something as

well. His face was grim, he seemed disturbed and anxious.

Silvan did not reply to the general's question. Instead, he

turned to the elf of the kirath, who immediately bowed very low.

"You bring news, sir?" the king asked imperiously.

"I do, Your Majesty," said the kirath.

"News of importance to the kingdom?"

The kirath stole a glance at Konnal, who shrugged in

response.

"Of the utmost importance, Your Majesty," the kirath replied.

"And you do not bring that news to your king!" Silvan was

pale with anger.

The general intervened. "Your Majesty, I would have apprised

you of the situation at the proper time. This matter is extremely

serious. Immediate action must be taken-"

"So you thought you would tell me of the matter after you had

taken the action," said Silvan. He looked back at the kirath.

"What is your news, sir? No, don't look at him! Tell me! I am your

king!"

"A force of Dark Knights has managed to penetrate the shield,

Your Majesty. They are inside the borders of Silvanesti and

marching toward Silvanost."

"Dark Knights?" Silvan repeated, astonished. "But how. . . ?

Are you certain?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the kirath replied. "1 saw them myself.

We had received reports of an army of ogres assembling out-

side the shield. We went to investigate these reports and it was

then we discovered this force of about four hundred human

soldiers inside the shield. The officers are those known to us as

the Dark Knights of Takhisis. We recognized their armor. A

company of archers, probably mercenaries, marches with them.

They have among their number a minotaur, who is second in

command." .

"Who is their leader?" Silvan asked.

"There is not time for this-" Konnal began.

"I want to know all the details," Silvan stated coldly.

"The leader is very strange, Your Majesty," the kirath replied.

"She is a human female. That in itself is not surprising, but this

leader is a child, even among their kind. She cannot be more than

eighteen human years, if she is that. Yet she is a Knight, and she

is their commander. She wears the black armor, and the soldiers

defer to her in everything."

"That is odd," said Silvan, frowning. "I can hardly believe

it. I am familiar with the structure of the Dark Knights, who

now call themselves Knights of Neraka. I have never heard of

a person that young being made a Knight, much less an

officer."

Silvan shifted his gaze to Konnal. "What do you plan to do

about this threat, General?"

"We will mobilize the army, at once, Your Majesty," Konnal

replied stiffly. "I have already given orders to do so. The kirath

are following the enemy's progress through our land. We will

march out to meet th-em, and we will repulse them and destroy

them. Their force numbers only four hundred. They have no sup-

plies, no means of acquiring supplies. They are cut off, isolated.

The battle will not last long."

"Do you have any experience fighting against the Knights of

Neraka, General Konnal?" Silvan asked.

Konnal's face darkened. He pursed his lips. "No, Your

Majesty. I have not."

"Do you have any experience fighting against any foe other

than a dream foe?" Silvan pursued.

Konnal was extremely angry. He went livid. Two bright flar-

ing spots of red stained his cheeks. Jumping to his feet, he

slammed his hands on the desk. "You young-"

"General!" Glaucous came back from wherever his thoughts

had been wandering to hastily intervene. "He is your king."

Konnal.muttered something that sounded like, "He is not my

king . . ." but he said the words beneath his breath.

"I have fought against these Knights and their forces, Gen-

eral," Silvan continued. "My father and mother fought the Dark

Knights in the forests around Qualinesti. I have fought ogres

and human brigands. I have fought elves, as you may know,

General."

The elves they had fought had been elven assassins sent out

before the shield was put in place, sent to murder Porthios and

Alhana, who had been declared dark elves, perhaps on the orders

of General Konnal.

"Although I myself did not fight," Silvan said, bound to be

truthful, "I have been witness to many of these battles. In addi-

tion, I have taken part in the meetings during which my father

and mother and their officers planned their strategies."

"And yet, the Dark Knights managed to capture Qualinesti,

despite your father's best efforts," Konnal said, with a slight curl

of his lip.

"They did, sir," Silvan replied gravely, "and that is why I

warn you not to underestimate them. I agree with your decision,

General. We will send out a force to fight them. I would like to see

a map of the area."

"Your Majesty-" Konnal began impatiently, but Silvanoshei

was already spreading a map on the desk.

"Where are the Dark Knights, kirath?" Silvan asked.

The kirath stepped forward, indicated with his finger on

the map the location of the troops. "As you can see, Your

Majesty, by following the Thon- Thalas River, they entered the

shield here at the Silvanesti border, where the two intersect.

Our reports indicate that they are currently hugging the banks

of the Tho~- Thalas. We have no reason to believe that they will

deviate from that course, which will lead them directly into

Silvanost."

Silvan studied the map. "1 agree with the kirath that they are

not likely to abandon the road that runs alongside the river. To do

so would be to risk losing themselves in unfamiliar wilderness.

They know they have been seen. They have no reason to hide.

They have every reason to move with haste. Their only hope is to

attack us while we are presumably reeling from the shock of find-

ing them inside our borders."

He glanced pointedly at Konnal as he said this. The general's

face was stone hard, stone cold. He said nothing.

"I suggest that here"-Silvan placed his finger on the map-

"would be an excellent location for us to engage them. The enemy

will come down out of the hills to find our forces spread out in

this valley. They will find themselves trapped between the river

on one side and hills on the other, which will make it difficult for

them to deploy their forces to best advantage. While the foot sol-

diers hit them from the front, a company of cavalry can circle

around and hit them from the rear. We will gradually close the

jaws of our army"-he moved his finger from the footmen in the

front to the cavalry in the rear, forming a semicircle--" and swal-

low them."

Silvan looked up. Konnal stared down at the map, frowning,

his hands clasped behind his back.

"That is a good plan, Your Majesty," Glaucous said, sounding

impressed.

"General Konnal?" Silvan demanded.

"It might work," General Konnal conceded grudgingly.

"My only concern is that the Knights may hide in the wilder-

ness," Silvan added. "If they do that, we will have a difficult time

flushing them out."

"Bah! We will find them," Konnal stated.

"It seems your forces cannot find an immense green dragon,

General," Silvan re;turned. "They've been searching for Cyan

Bloodbane for thirty years. If this army of humans was to sepa-

rate, scatter, we might search for them for a century."

Glaucous laughed, causing the general to cast him a baleful

glance.

"I find nothing amusing in any of this," Konnal said. "How

did this spawn of evil come through that precious shield of yours,

Glaucous? Answer me that?"

"I assure you, General, I do not know," Glaucous said and his

face was once again troubled, shadowed. "Not yet, at any rate.

There is some fell magic at work here. I can smell it."

" All I smell is the stench of humans," Konnal said bitterly.

"I suggest that we try to capture alive this strange woman-

child who leads them. I would like very much to speak to her.

Very much indeed," Glaucous added, frowning.

"I agree with Glaucous, General." Silvanoshei turned to

Konnal. "You will give the necessary orders. And you will

arrange for me to join the army."

"Out of the question," Konnal said shortly.

"I will go," said Silvan imperiously, staring intently at the

general, daring him to defiance. "You will make the arrange-

ments, sir. Would you have me cower under the bed while my

people ride to defend their homes?"

Konnal considered, then he made an ice-rimed bow to the

king. "Very well. If your Majesty insists, I will see to it," he said.

Silvan turned on his heel. He left the room in a flurry of robes.

Kiryn cast a thoughtful glance at Glaucous, then followed after

the king. The guards closed the doors behind them, took up their

posts.

"I would be interested to know why you changed your mind,

GeneraL" Glaucous said quietly.

"Battles are chancy affairs," Konnal replied, shrugging. "No

one knows how they will turn out. No one knows who may fall

victim to the enemy. If His Majesty were to suffer some hurt-"

"_you would make him a martyr," said Glaucous," as you

made his parents martyrs. You will be blamed. Never doubt it.

You should not permit him to go." The mage was grave, with-

drawing into himself again. I'll have a presentiment that, if he

does, something awful will happen."

"Something awful has already happened, in case you hadn't

noticed!" Konnal said angrily. IIYour magic is failing, Glaucous!

Like all the others! Admit it!"

"Your fear is talking, my friend," said Glaucous. I'll under-

stand that, and I forgive you for impugning my magical skills. I

forgive you this time." His voice softened. "Consider well what

I have said. I will endeavor to persuade His Majesty to recon-

sider riding to war. If I cannot do so, permit him to come, but

keep him safe."

"Leave me!" Konnal said harshly. I'll do not need a wizard

telling me what to do."

"I will leave," said Glaucous, "but remember this, General.

You need me. I stand between the Silvanesti and the world. Cast

me aside, and you cast aside all hope. I am the only one who can

save you."

Konnal spoke no word, did not look up.

CHAPTER TWENTYSEVEN

THR TOUCH OF THE DEAD

This evening, while Silvanoshei prepared himself for his

first battle, Goldmoon prepared herself as if for battle. For

he first time in many long weeks, Goldmoon asked that a

hand mirror be brought to her quarters. For the first time since the

storm, she lifted the mirror and looked at her face.

Goldmoon had been vain as a girl. She was graced with a rare

beauty, the only woman in her tribe to have hair that was like a

shimmering tapestry woven of silken threads of sunshine and of

moonlight. The chieftain's daughter, she was spoiled, pampered,

brought up with an exalted opinion of herself. She spent long

hours gazing into the water bowl just to see her own reflection.

The young warriors of her tribe adored her. They came to blows

for her smile. All except one.

One day, she looked into the eyes of a tall outcast, a young

shepherd named Riverwind, and she saw herself in the mirror he

held up to her. Looking into his eyes, she saw her vanity, her self-

ishness. She saw that she was ugly in his eyes, and she was

shamed and despairing. For him, for Riverwind, Goldmoon

wanted to be beautiful.