The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2) (36 page)

Eidyn hung his head as a deep look of concern crossed his face.

“Leinor and Eirtwin must be warned.” said the prince.

“There will be time for that later.” replied Ader. “We must concern ourselves with the here and now. The Ulrog from the cliffs above will undoubtedly be heading our way. I anticipate a report from Lilywynn at any moment.”

A sharp gasp emitted from Vieri. Ader spun to look at the girl with the rest of the troop.

“What is it?” asked Ader.

Vieri lowered her head and looked down. Eidyn looked to Ader and saw the concern in the Seraph’s eyes. The Elf prince moved toward the Windrider.

“What have you done?!” demanded the Eidyn.

Vieri’s body went rigid and she braced herself.

“I swore no harm to the boy, but do not test me, Elf!” snapped Vieri. “I will protect myself.”

Once again Ader inserted himself between Vieri and a member of the troop. Eidyn clenched his fists.

“Did you kill her?!” barked the prince.

Vieri’s jaw set and she glared at Eidyn over the Seraph’s shoulder. Ader calmly addressed the Windrider.

“What has befallen the girl?” asked Ader.

“Ambush.” came the reply from just outside the camp.

The assembly spun to face the darkness. From the brush strode the broad shouldered  form of Nostr. The robed Ulrog carried something close to his chest. He walked confidently through the camp and lay the blanket wrapped body of Sprig next to the fire. All in the camp save Ader became tense.  Granu stood taller as his knuckles went white gripping his staff. Vieri backed from the Ulrog and looked about the camp.    

“Lies!” hissed Vieri.

Ader frowned at the Windrider.

“Patience, daughter of the sands.” soothed Ader. “The Ulrog is a Delvin scribe and an outcast from the stone men. He is among us of his own accord, but gives no indication of treachery.”

“Is he dead?” gasped a stunned Kael motioning to Sprig and moving forward.

“No.” answered Ader without taking his eyes from the Ulrog. “He lives. No doubt the scribe will tell you why if you ask.”

Nostr turned to face Kael. No expression was evident in his stony visage.

“Well .... what happened?” asked an exasperated Kael.

The Ulrog raised his brow then turned to the Windrider. A long rocky arm raised and his stony finger pointed at Vieri.

“Ambush.” he said simply.

Eidyn heard enough.

“Somebody start talking!” demanded the Elf. “I want answers, NOW!”

Vieri’s impassive face broke and the Windrider turned to Ader.

“The girl directly supported the vessel...” pleaded Vieri.

“...and you began to remove the supports to access your target.” completed Ader.

“Yes.” sighed Vieri hanging her head.

“WHAT?!” screamed Eidyn. “YOU KILLED HER?!”

“Worse.” mumbled Vieri. “I delivered her into the hands of the Ulrog.

CHAPTER 21: PLANS OF MERIT

Eidyn’s eyes were wild and frantic. Kael angered. The boy rounded on Nostr.

“What happened? Where is she?”

Vieri snapped from her despair. She narrowed her eyes at the Ulrog.

“You spoke to them!” she accused. “They listened to you and followed your directions.”

Instantly, the Windrider snatched a pair of wicked curved blades from inside her black cloak. She circled away from the hulking stone man. Nostr stood impassively staring at the Windrider, seemingly unconcerned. Kael became nervous as Ader calmly watched the scene play out.

“Well?” asked Kael excitedly. “Did you speak to the Ulrog?”

“Yes.” replied the gruff voice of Nostr.

Kael’s eyes followed Vieri. She seemed to be assessing the vulnerabilities of the Ulrog scribe.

“Why?” questioned Kael frantically.

The Ulrog’s eyes stayed locked on Kael as Vieri moved behind the stone man.

“I wished to confirm where they were taking the girl.” stated Nostr. “They were ordered not to kill her by their leader. Very unusual. The Ulrog rarely take prisoners. “

Vieri crouched, her body a wound coil ready to spring.

“The Ulrog were properly motivated to instantly kill the girl.” continued Nostr. “The Windrider assassinated one of their priests and led the Ulrog to believe the Elf girl, crossing at the fjord, was to blame.”

Vieri froze, and the group’s eyes locked on her. The Windrider clenched her teeth.

“It was a good plan.” snarled Vieri. “Let my enemies eliminate one another.”

“It was an excellent plan.” nodded Ader. “Rada would be proud.”

Vieri nodded her head at the compliment.

“What?!” exclaimed Eidyn. “She delivers Lilywynn to certain death and you compliment her on the task!”

Ader turned on the Elf.

“You need to calm yourself, son of Leinor. You will be king some day. How you handle crisis is your most important attribute in that role.” stated Ader. “I compliment the Windrider for expertly manipulating the task put before her. It is not her fault that the task was the twisted result of manipulation of another kind.”

Ader turned to face Nostr.

“Besides, Lilywynn has not been delivered to certain death. Remain calm and listen to all you hear and you will ascertain that fact.” stated Ader calmly. “You say they were ordered not to kill her. You also say you wished to
confirm
where they were taking her. What do you mean
confirm
?”

Nostr remained silent, serenely staring at Kael. The boy rolled his eyes.

“Just answer him!” exclaimed Kael.

The Ulrog slowly turned to Ader.

“I have
seen
where she will be going.” stated Nostr.

“And they will not kill her?” asked Ader.

“No.” returned Nostr.

“Because you have seen it or because they told you they would not?” questioned Ader.

“Both because I have seen it and because they were told they must not.” answered Nostr. “The Ulrog will not disobey an order from Izgra the Chosen.”

“Why would they be told not to kill Elves?” asked Kael.

Nostr slowly raised his stony brow.

“Is that not self-evident?” asked the Ulrog.

Ader frowned.

“He wants you.” began Ader. “Or at least he wanted you. The chain of command amongst the Ulrog is notoriously slow. That is a huge reason the Zodrians have been able to stave off their vast numbers for so long. The order to hold all Elves was probably issued weeks ago.”

“But he wants to hold Elves.” started Kael. “I am ...”

“An Elf.” interrupted Teeg. “More and more everyday.”

Kael bit his lip and thought on the subject.

“Wait a moment!” exclaimed Vieri. “Don’t diverge from the subject. This ... this Ulrog spoke to the others and they obeyed his command. I don’t trust it!”

“You are in good company on that point, Windrider.” boomed Granu turning to Nostr. “What befell the young Sprite?”

Once again Nostr remained motionless. Kael exhaled then slowly addressed him.

“How was Sprig harmed?” asked Kael.

“I incapacitated him.” answered Nostr.

“You did what!?” exclaimed Eidyn. “Why?!”

Nostr looked to Kael and the boy nodded for him to continue.

“His time is not now.” stated Nostr simply.

“What do you mean ‘his time’?” asked Kael.

“He is important. He was not supposed to go to Avra.” began Nostr. “I was forced to stop him from charging to his cousin’s rescue. It would have simply resulted in his own death.”

“What?! You were there the whole time?!” shouted Eidyn. “Why didn’t you stop her?! Why didn’t you try to save her?!”

Nostr did not wait for Kael’s approval before answering.

“This is not my task.” grated the voice of the Ulrog.

“Not your task!” scoffed Eidyn. “Are you pledged to Avra?! Do you do what is right, or do you follow some other code?!”

“I ensured the Hackles would not kill the girl. This was the task foreseen for me. That is all I had foreseen. That is all I was supposed to do.” stated the Scribe.

“This is ridiculous!” pleaded Eidyn to Ader. “We are wasting time. We must follow her! We must save her!”

“We do.” replied Ader eyeing the Ulrog scribe. “It seems we are destined to do so. The questions are how and where.”

Kael saw the question in Ader’s eyes and turned to face the Ulrog once more.

“Where are we supposed to go? How are we supposed to save her?” asked Kael.

The Ulrog scribe bowed to Kael then to Ader.

“I leave you now, Kael Brelgson.” stated Nostr. “The Guardsman will recover shortly as well as the Sprite. You have some precious time here, for the Ulrog will not attack this camp. They .... fear me and wish no additional contact with me. May the Creator smile upon your endeavors.”

Nostr spun and brushed past Vieri as he strode from the grove.

“Wait! We need answers...” called Kael.

“Let him go, Kael.” interrupted Ader. “He joined us without request and will not stay for such. His task as he sees it is complete.”

Ader stared at the brush line that swallowed the broad shouldered Ulrog.

“I don’t think we have seen the last of the stone prophet.” predicted Ader.

“Are we to believe his dismissal of our danger?” questioned Granu.

“I don’t care for danger!” erupted Eidyn. “We must cross the river ourselves and give chase!”

Ader spun on the Elf prince with fire in his eyes.

“Hold your tongue, Eidyn Valpreux!” snapped Ader. “I have come to an end of managing both the great and the small! And you, my prince, are the small! You will learn to manage yourself or you will leave us! Now is the time to THINK, not run off with proud but nonetheless foolish intentions!”

Eidyn clenched his teeth and stared at the Seraph. Finally, his rigid face broke and he lightly bowed his head.

“Yes, Lord Ader.” mumbled the Elf.

“Good.” stated Ader as he spun to Sprig. “First we must focus on those here in front of us. Those we can help immediately.”

The Seraph leaned over the still form of the Sprite and a green glow spread from his fingertips across Sprig’s body. Momentarily, the Seraph smiled.

“He is simply unconscious.” stated Ader. “The Delvin order are experts in a form of defense that relies heavily upon incapacitating their assailants.  He will awaken shortly, and I will have another young man willing to rush out and get himself killed. We will let him sleep.”

Ader turned to Cefiz and checked him once more. The Guardsman mumbled in his slumber.

“Our lieutenant, however, will be in considerable pain. His movements will be labored and difficult, but he should be able to travel.” concluded Ader turning to Eidyn. “Where we must travel is the question.”

“We must...” began Eidyn.

Ader’s hand shot up to cut the Elf off.

“... think of the big picture as well as the small.” finished Ader. “Lilywynn will not be harmed. Even if the order to capture and not harm Elves is rescinded, the priests will determine her worth. She has information. Izgra will desire that information and he will send for her. It is certain that she will be sent to Kel Izgra.”

“Then her death is certain!” exclaimed Eidyn. “Once Izgra has no further use for her, he will dispose of her!”

“That is why our course of action must include intercepting Lilywynn
before
  she arrives at Kel Izgra.” said Ader. “As I see it we have choices. One is to charge across that river, which will undoubtedly be watched, into the maw of the Malveel. Ulrog packs will be waiting. We will sacrifice ourselves upon the altar of chivalry.”

Eidyn knit his brow.

“What other choice do we possess?”

“Infinite number.” replied Ader. “Think and you might even produce some yourself.”

Eidyn frowned.

“The Ulrog lands are unknown to us.” said Ader. “The mountains have myriad pathways. Even if we were to fight our way past the Ulrog guarding the crossing, which way do we turn. If we do not find the trail of Lilywynn’s captors, we are simply in enemy territory and must fight our way back out again.”

Ader let his words sink in. Granu nodded and agreed with the assessment.

“Our quest lies to the East.” said Ader. “All of the Ulrog’s pathways lead to one place, the Valley of Mnim. No matter what path the Ulrog chose to transport Lilywynn, they must eventually travel through the Valley of Mnim to deliver her to Izgra. That is where we shall strike!”