Delver Magic I: Sanctum's Breach by Jeff Inlo (read novels website .TXT) 📕

“Their leader is with them now,” she whispered into Holli’s ear, but those around her heard as well. “He is directing their efforts. Many are being sent to the wall to cut off our escape. He is close by. I think he knows we want to head west.”

The elf guard shook her head with distress, but kept them moving. If men were being sent to the wall, they would have to beat them there, although she understood such prospects were dim. Holli actually surpassed her own expectations as they reached within a stone’s throw of the wall before a rider twenty paces from them called out their position.

The party stood beside a large storage facility for grain which came in from the fields. The building walls were tall, taller than Dzeb, and made of brick. Holli needed only scan the closest wall in the briefest of moments to know it would not behoove them to be trapped against it. She immediately sought other options.

In front of them, only a few strides, a wide road drifted off to the west and up a ramp over the ancient wall. It was the main supply route for farmers to bring their crops to town. Holli’s sharp eyes followed the direct passage out to the western horizon. While it would lie over open ground between the corn and wheat fields, it would eventually lead toward wooded areas of sanctuary. She harshly judged its merits with tactical implications.

The open road would give an advantage to those on horseback. It offered nothing in the way of cover, but it remained a clear path to the west and ultimately to Sanctum. There were trees in the distance, trees she and Lief, and Ryson could use to thwart any attack, but they stood out of reach. She knew the group could not outrun the horsebacked guards to safety. In her final assessment, the road afforded her little strategic value other than offering greater space for maneuverability and the slim hope of escape.

Still, these small benefits surpassed that which existed in their current position. Unwilling to be trapped against the warehouse, Holli quickly ordered everyone to the middle of the road. They were in the open and away from cover, but free passage extended in several directions. With a decision made, she turned a critical eye upon her foes.

As more and more riders rambled toward them, their weaknesses, as well as their ill-will, were easily visible to the eyes of a trained elf guard. The men appeared ready for a skirmish, but not trained enough to use the open ground to their advantage. The circle they formed was loose and porous. If it became necessary, she and Lief could send enough arrows to send the lot into utter confusion and spook the horses into uncontrolled flight. For now, though, she waited with sharp eyes watching every significant move of those that surrounded her.

Ryson had returned to their ranks, but instead of taking a place next to Holli, he moved to her far left. Lief noted his positioning and moved slowly to his right. The three formed the points of a triangle with the rest of the party in between. Ryson kept his sword sheathed as Holli and Lief kept their bows strapped about their shoulders.

Tense silence gripped the scene until Matthew called out to any rider that would answer.

“What’s going on here? Why are you blocking our way?”

None replied.

“I insist you let us pass,” he demanded. “We have done nothing wrong. You have no right to stop us.”

One of the guards, eyeing Dzeb with both fear and awe, called out the first reply. “You’re walkin’ around with a monster. After what we’ve seen, we’ve …”

His response was cut short by the slow beat of a horse’s trot behind him, and a callous command. “That will be enough.”

Those surrounded by the guards turned their attention to the approaching rider; all accept Holli, Lief and Ryson. Their focus remained upon the guards which stood closest to their points of protection.

There were now at least two dozen riders that encircled them. Some had swords in hand, others had bows with arrows ready. They were surely not bound together by common training, as they did not allow their greater numbers to work to their advantage. Their positioning remained lax and disorganized, wide gaps remained in their ranks. They made no attempt to complement or coordinate their weaponry as those with bows found themselves clustered together. Those with long swords and best suited to block the escape routes were also far from optimal position.

The threat, however, lay not in their ability to work together, but in the cold assumption of their task. Ryson judged them as nothing more than a collection of mercenaries, hired by the mayor to carry out his own bidding. Unable to recognize a man before him, he believed they would be willing to carry out any order, no matter how unjust. The guards looked upon most of the group as nothing more than cattle, and they would probably treat them all with less compassion. Only the cliff behemoth pulled a reaction from the men beyond indifference, and that was fear.

The newcomer on horseback moved forward through the ranks of the circled men. He guided his horse with obvious difficulty, making it clear to all that he was uncomfortable sitting upon the animal. It was Consprite, and his appearance brought little surprise to all that had come to know him, especially Mappel.

The elder elf remained quiet as Matthew confronted the mayor first.

“Why have you ordered these men to stop us? You assured us they would assist us.”

Consprite shook his head, his slightly pudgy cheeks jiggled, accenting his expression of impatience. “I assured you they would escort your guests safely to the church, nothing more. Don’t make it sound as if I have broken a promise. That deed has been done by you. I offered my help and you were to keep me advised of anything which might stir the people. This morning I hear shouts and screams and now I find you attempting to sneak out of town. Is that keeping your word? That just won’t do. The people are up in arms. They’ll expect an explanation. I now also would like an explanation.”

“There is nothing to explain,” Mappel joined the debate. He kept his tone calm as he stepped towards Consprite. “We have done exactly what we told you we were going to do. We have brought many together at the Church of Godson, we have talked, and now we must leave.”

Consprite brushed his eyebrow with his forefinger. “I assume then you have reached some consensus. Were you not going to inform me of that decision?”

Mappel responded placidly. His stance, however, was anything but relaxed. His weight remained evenly upon his feet, his staff balanced in his hands. “It no longer concerns you.”

The mayor would not agree. He spoke with a near mocking tone. “I doubt that’s the case. I would guess it concerns everyone. Isn’t that what you told me when we had our discussion in my office? I was under the impression that whatever was happening was affecting the entire land. Has that changed?”

“Many things have changed since our first meeting,” Mappel said coolly.

“But not that.”

“Be that as it may, our business now calls us away from Connel.”

“And that’s it?” The mayor feigned surprise as he raised his eyebrows. He spoke as if he could not conceive of such a callous decision. “You would just leave, without acknowledging my role or my wishes? You are finished with Connel, so you walk away as if you were never here?” Consprite’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “It is not that easy. There are debts to repay.”

“What kind of debts?”

“Debts to me, of course. Your parade will certainly put me in an uncomfortable position. It may be discovered that I hid your presence from the town. That will not be looked upon kindly. There are also the escorts I have provided for you.”

“The same escorts which now block us?” Matthew asked with an intensity which loomed ever higher.

Never at a loss for words, the mayor responded with a sharpened tongue. “These men confronted you because your giant friend there failed to follow the instructions we agreed upon. I was to help your guests reach the church and you would keep from causing a panic in the streets. I’m sure you saw the commotion you caused. What were my men supposed to do? Ignore it? No, I’m afraid not. If you are upset by what has occurred, it is your own fault. It also appears as if some of your other guests were unwilling to take advantage of my escorts.” His eyes first washed over the giant, but they soon found the dwarves. Their hardened faces stared back at him as he noted their peculiar features. The hoods of the algors hid their faces from him, but their appearance was already reported to him. He nodded to Jon and Tun. “It seems there are other interesting things that you wish to keep hidden from me. These two I assume are dwarves. They’ve entered this town without my knowledge. Another breach of our agreement. Are they going to accompany you to Sanctum?”

The question hung in the air even as Consprite waited with triumphant glee. He drank in their surprise, especially that of the elder elf.

“What do you know of Sanctum?” Mappel asked, no longer hiding his contempt for the man.

“I know a great many things you probably wish I didn’t.” He paused to pull an item from his pocket. He held it aloft for all to see the weather beaten cover of a book in which dust had actually become embedded. To Matthew and Stephen, the book was immediately recognizable. “It was hard to obtain a copy of a Book of Godson. Not many people have one. Luckily the library archived a copy. I doubt it has been looked at in years.”

At first Consprite smiled at the reactions of Matthew and Stephen. He reveled in his victory until he placed an icy stare upon the elder elf. “This book has revealed a great many things to me. I believe I know what you are after. It’s this Sphere of Ingar, isn’t it? It would explain a great many things to me. I imagine you’re going to Sanctum Mountain to try and stop the magic which you believe is now free. Let me ask you this, does it still contain poison for the elves?”

“It will contain poison for all,” Mappel snarled.

“I don’t know about that, but it does contain great power. I want to know what you intend to do with it. What are your plans when you reach Sanctum?”

“That does not concern you.”

“It does, if I don’t let you leave.”

“Again I demand to know by what right you hold us.” Matthew growled, his cheeks turning red with anger.

Consprite nearly laughed at the reaction. “Do you think with all that is going on I have to answer such a question? You talk as if there’s someone I have to answer to. That simply isn’t the case. No one would fault me for throwing all of you in prison, especially if they found out who and what you are. The people of this town will be very upset to know that monsters were hiding in that church of yours. What do you think they will do when their courage grows? I bet they’ll consider burning that church right down to the ground. If I’m not around to keep order, it will