Bitterwood. Part 3

"A deadfall," he muttered. "The killer has b.o.o.by-trapped his escape route. Cunning, for a human."

"This is Bitterwood," said Albekizan. "The predator. He's no mere human."

Zanzeroth nodded then took the remaining dog by the leash and led him back over the stone line to the other side of the short tunnel. The dog found the scent once more as the earth-dragons at last caught up. Zanzeroth wrapped the leash tightly around his talon so that the dog couldn't run too far ahead. Gadreel followed, growing ever more nervous. They were walking along the diamond. All the winged dragons were familiar with the place for it could be seen from the air for miles: four gigantic stone circles surrounded by an even larger diamond of stone. There were several of these constructs throughout the kingdom, in places where the mystery lines crossed in elaborate networks of ramps and bridges. The last remnants, perhaps, of a long-vanished culture. These places were much feared, for four circles were the symbol of death.

To Gadreel's relief, the ox-dog veered away from the edges of the diamond and led them to a large field of broken stone. In the midst of the field sat an ancient, low building formed of vine-covered brick. The sky brightened with the approach of dawn, giving Gadreel some comfort.

As he allowed himself to relax slightly, a whistling noise cut through the air. With a sickening wet thunk thunk, an arrow lodged deep between the eyes of the ox-dog. The huge beast sighed then slumped forward, all life gone.

Zanzeroth leapt before the king, spreading his wings wide to shield him. "He's in yonder structure. Take cover, Sire!"

"Never!" Albekizan cried. "If Bitterwood is here, no force on earth shall stop me from ordering my soldiers into that building to drag him out, that I may have my vengeance!" He pointed to the captain, then thundered, "Go!"

The captain raised his shield and charged forward, his men following at a tail's length. One by one, they vanished into the dark doorway. Silence followed.

"He's fled deeper," said Zanzeroth. "Or perhaps-"

His words were cut short as a dragon cried out from the darkness, his voice followed by a thunderous rumble. The doorway glowed suddenly with a light to rival the rising sun. A ball of flame rolled forward, led by a blast of searing, turpentine-scented air that threw Gadreel from his feet.

"No!" the king cried. "A suicide trap! How dare he deny me justice!"

"I doubt suicide," Zanzeroth said, flapping his wings in the still turbulent air. He climbed several dozen feet before shouting, "There!"

Gadreel and Albekizan rose to join him and quickly spotted a cloaked man carrying a longbow, perhaps a hundred yards away, running across the stony field. The light of the burning building gave him a reddish, devilish cast. As Zanzeroth dove toward him, the man dropped his bow and fell to his knees. He struggled to lift a rusty iron disk almost two feet across that was set in the stone. As Zanzeroth stretched his talons toward his prey the disk came free, revealing a gaping hole. Grabbing his bow, the man dropped into the dark circle a half-second before Zanzeroth s.n.a.t.c.hed the air where his head had been.

Zanzeroth looped around to land. Albekizan dropped behind the hole and spun around, his eyes burning red with reflected flame. "So close! So close!"

"He's not free yet," Zanzeroth said, rushing forward, his longest spear in his grip. He jabbed the shaft into the dark hole. Without warning an arrow flashed upward to meet the spear thrust. Zanzeroth jerked backward as the arrow slashed his right cheek and tore open his eye. He stumbled back from the opening in the earth, cursing.

Gadreel gazed at the hole, as black as a starless night, a perfect circle. Albekizan fell to his belly before the dark ring, thrusting his fore-claws into it, grasping blindly, his need to capture Bodiel's killer blotting out all caution. The hole was much too small for a sun-dragon to enter.

Gadreel swallowed hard and stepped forward. If ever there was a moment where he might prove himself worthy of greater esteem than a slave, this was that moment.

"I'll go," he said.

"Hurry," Albekizan said, rising. Gadreel lowered himself tailfirst into the darkness. He entered a tunnel barely eight feet in diameter and found it half filled with rushing water. He heard echoes from up ahead and inched forward in pursuit, holding his wings as high as he could to keep them from becoming waterlogged. His eyes adjusted to the dim light that filtered in from the opening behind him. He saw no sign of the human.

The light behind him faded as he crept forward but was replaced by a dim glow far ahead. When he reached the new light, he found another metal disk still in place above him, perforated by four holes. The glow of dawn seeped through and he felt exposed. He reached up to try to lift the rusted disk, but couldn't budge it.

Taking a deep, calming breath, he moved further into the gloom. As darkness engulfed him once more, he felt something swirl around his legs, entangling them. He tried to kick himself free but lost his balance in the rushing water. He fell, dragged beneath the chill current, tossed and sc.r.a.ped against the rough walls. He flailed, unable to tell which way was up. He swallowed foul, brackish water and felt his heart freeze within him. The flame of his life began to flicker.

Then, through the murk, he saw four tiny circles. He'd been washed back to the last disk. He dug his claws into the walls and thrust his head toward the light. He gulped in dank, moldy air, the sweetest air he'd ever tasted. He found his footing and reached down to grasp the heavy weight that still entangled his legs. He pulled it free, lifting it into the light. It was Bitterwood's cloak.

Bitterwood.

The insanity of his pursuit struck home. Bodiel had been no match for the demon. Zanzeroth, the most skilled hunter in all the land, had been bested. What chance had he, a mere slave? He studied the darkness before him. The roar of water masked all other noise. Perhaps Bitterwood was near. But Gadreel knew in his heart that the only reason he was still alive was that Bitterwood was long gone. Gadreel abandoned his chase and inched his way back toward the entrance.

He reached the open hole and stretched to grab the edge. The king's enormous talon reached down, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and lifted him clear.

"Did you find him?" Albekizan said, setting Gadreel before him.

"I-I..." Gadreel said, staring deep into the king's hopeful eyes. Gadreel felt he should lie, should tell the king he'd fought the killer. But he only sighed and shook his head. Gadreel lifted the cloak. "I found this, Sire."

Albekizan took the cloak and stared at it, his eyes filled with emotions that Gadreel could not fathom.

"I saw no other sign of him," Gadreel said. "The water was quite powerful. The current pulled me under. No doubt, the man we chased has drowned."

"No," said the king, softly. "Not this monster. This dragon-slayer, he'll not die a careless death. You did your best. Be grateful to have escaped with your life."

Gadreel nodded. The king didn't seem angry about his failure. Somehow that didn't comfort him.

"Go tend your master's wound," Albekizan said.

Zanzeroth was squatting on the ground, pressing a bloodied bundle of leaves to his injured eye. No one alive knew more about the medicinal properties of forest plants; the entire world was his pharmacy. "'It's not a mortal wound, Sire," said Zanzeroth, his voice a curious mixture of confidence and agony. "We'll head back to the castle for more earth-dragons and fresh dogs. The hunt will continue. In daylight our prey no longer has the advantage of shadows."

"No," Albekizan said. "I admire your spirit, old friend, but we need not chase this demon into further traps. There's a solution to this problem, an obvious one. We've paid a horrible price this night. I vow this-the debt of Bitterwood will be repaid in blood."

Gadreel stared at the open circle at his feet. Outside the tunnel, free of the rushing water, he felt shame that he'd abandoned the chase. His failure lodged in his gut like an icy stone. He'd been brave enough to enter the hole, why hadn't he been brave enough to stay? Proving his worth to the king no longer seemed important. The next time he faced Bitterwood, he must prove his worth to himself.

CHAPTER THREE: STONE.

AT MID-MORNING, AFTER giving his orders to Bander, the earth-dragon in charge of the guards, Albekizan went to the roof of the palace to bask in sunlight. The night had left him with a chill despite the warmth of the day. It was late summer, nearing the time of harvest. The sky was flawless blue. From his high perch Albekizan surveyed the patchwork of land splayed out in all directions. The deep green forests, the golden fields, and the broad silver ribbon of the river: Albekizan ruled every inch of this land as undisputed master. His kingdom stretched from the impa.s.sible mountains two hundred miles west to the endless ocean a hundred miles to the east, north to the Ghostlands and far, far to the south, to the endless, trackless marshes that had swallowed many an army. giving his orders to Bander, the earth-dragon in charge of the guards, Albekizan went to the roof of the palace to bask in sunlight. The night had left him with a chill despite the warmth of the day. It was late summer, nearing the time of harvest. The sky was flawless blue. From his high perch Albekizan surveyed the patchwork of land splayed out in all directions. The deep green forests, the golden fields, and the broad silver ribbon of the river: Albekizan ruled every inch of this land as undisputed master. His kingdom stretched from the impa.s.sible mountains two hundred miles west to the endless ocean a hundred miles to the east, north to the Ghostlands and far, far to the south, to the endless, trackless marshes that had swallowed many an army.

It was said that Albekizan owned the earth and was master of all who flew above it and all who crawled upon it. In over a half century of rule, he had bent the world to his will and had a.s.sured that there was no destiny other than his destiny. He woke each day secure in the knowledge that if he desired a thing, nothing and no one could deny him.

Until this morning.

Beloved Bodiel was dead. He'd trade his wealth and power, even his own life, to undo this horrible truth. But there was no one with whom he could demand such a trade.

Albekizan rushed to the edge of the roof, a great platform of stone, and leapt into the sky. His wings caught the wind; he soared upward, his face toward the mocking sun. In his youth he'd often tested his boundaries, climbing ever higher in pursuit of the yellow orb that remained beyond his reach. He pushed himself again, beating his mighty wings until they ached, scaling the sky like a ladder, upward, upward, until the chill in his blood was replaced by fire, by the burning in his chest, by the heat of the gasps that rushed from his throat as he pushed to his limits, then beyond.

The sun grew no closer than it had in his youth. There were some things even above a king.

Exhausted, Albekizan tilted earthward and abandoned his futile chase.

From high above his palace looked like a rocky mountain. A vast mound of stone heaped upon stone, the palace had been under construction for a thousand years, started by ancestors so long distant that their names were now legend. Asrafel, the Firebringer. Wanzanzen, the Lawgiver. Belpantheron, the Just.

Over the centuries, stone quarried from the western mountains had been floated downriver to this vast rich plain and used to build the home of kings. The structure was in many ways more fortress than palace, with vast walls designed to hold back enemy armies. From the sky the palace was a maze of courtyards and towers, winding alleys and great halls half open to the sky, as befits a race born to rule the air. Despite being built of gray granite, the palace was awash in colors, with terrace gardens bright with riotous flowers. The fiery flag of the sun-dragons -gold-thread suns set against scarlet silk backgrounds- flew by the thousands, on poles rising from every corner of the complex. Inside the palace the colors vanished. Over the centuries, as stone piled upon stone, the oldest rooms of the palace had become ever more enclosed. Immense caverns became hidden deep within the rock, connected by narrow, twisting pa.s.sages. The vibrant, explosive life of the external palace hid a cold, stony heart.

Albekizan landed on the highest rooftop with the lightness of a leaf. Indeed, as he touched down, the wind of his pa.s.sage sent a dried leaf skittering across the polished stone before him. Albekizan took the presence of the dry, dead thing as a sign. Autumn lay close. Cold days were coming to the kingdom.

He paused, steadying himself against a wall as he caught his breath. He looked over the fields and spotted a small army of earth-dragons at work piling wood in a nearby field. Albekizan's heart skipped as he realized they were at work on his son's funeral pyre.

"Bodiel," he sighed.

Then, taking a slow, deep breath, he steeled himself. Once certain that his eyes would betray no emotion unbefitting a king, Albekizan marched down the wide steps into the dark depths of his home.

Albekizan descended ever further into the bowels of the palace, drawn to the very heart, the nest chamber. This was the most deeply enclosed structure of the palace, sunk into the bedrock. The cool, dank air of the place stirred primitive memories. This was his birthplace. More, it was the place where he had first gazed upon Bodiel, damp from birth. He'd licked away the thick, salty fluid that had covered his son's still-closed eyes. The taste once again lingered on his tongue. The memory quickly faded, pushed away by the sour thought of Bodiel's adult body clutched against his own, damp with rain and blood.

When he entered the nest chamber he found he was not alone. Tanthia waited there, beside the vast fire-pit which lay cold and black. He almost didn't see her in the darkness. The lanterns that lit the immense room had all been shuttered so that only a sliver of light from the lanterns in the hall penetrated the shadows.

Albekizan stood silently, contemplating his queen as she turned her head toward him. He felt he should say something, that it was his role to give her strength.

The only thing he knew to say was, "Bodiel will be avenged."

Tanthia's wet eyes glistened in the gloom as she fixed her gaze upon him.

"I'm convening a council of war," Albekizan continued. "This crime shall not go unpunished. There's no corner of the earth where the guilty may hide."

Tanthia inhaled slowly. Softly, she asked, "This is all you have to say in comfort?"

"What more need be said?" he said. "Last night's events demand vengeance."

"Talk of vengeance is not the same as talk of grief," she said, her voice trembling. "I hear no pain in your voice. Where are your tears? Come with me, my king. Come with me to the Burning Ground. By now, Bodiel lies in state. Stand by my side as I go see him."

"No," said Albekizan. His eyes were fixed on the ancient rock beneath his claws, polished smooth by the pa.s.sage of his uncountable ancestors. Could Tanthia not feel the gravity of this place? Here, at the heart of all history, was no place for weakness. "Not yet. At nightfall, perhaps, I will go. But I've already seen my son dead. I've held his cold body. Do not lecture me about the proper way to grieve."

"You sound angry with me," Tanthia said.

"You hear what you want to hear," said Albekizan, turning away. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you. I will go now."

"Please," said Tanthia. "Stay with me. Share the burden of this grief."

"Grief cannot be my priority," Albekizan said, not looking back. "I have summoned Kanst. I must ready the armies. The longer we hesitate, the longer Bitterwood has to work his evil on this world. I hope you understand this."

Tanthia replied only with sobs. Albekizan sighed, stepping through the chamber door. In the hall he sensed a presence and could hear sc.r.a.ping against the stone around the nearby corner. Albekizan breathed deeply, catching a familiar scent in his nostrils. He knew who shadowed him.

"Bander!" he cried, summoning the captain of the palace guard.

In the time it took Albekizan to blink the earth-dragon dashed around the corner and snapped to attention.

"Sire," Bander said. "I didn't want to intrude but-"

"Are they ready?" Albekizan asked.

"Kanst has arrived, Sire," said Bander. "He waits in the war room with Metron and Zanzeroth." As he spoke, his voice wavered. The hard, beak-like face of earth-dragons gave little hint of emotion, but Albekizan could recognize a touch of fear in Bander's eyes. "As for Vendevorex, Sire, the guards continue their search."

Albekizan nodded. He wasn't angered by this failure of Bander's guards. Vendevorex possessed the power of invisibility. He would be found only when he wished to be found. "Continue the search. The wizard is vital to my plans. What of my second order?"

Bander looked relieved. "The guards are gathering the humans even now, Sire."

"Good. I want their stench removed from this castle-"

"Please?"

Tanthia's voice interrupted them. Albekizan turned to see his mate standing in the chamber door, the feathery scales around her eyes darkened by tears.

"I beg you," she said, her voice raspy and weak. "Come with me to the Burning Ground."

Albekizan narrowed his eyes with displeasure. "I consider this matter settled. No amount of tears will revive Bodiel. Go and wait at the Burning Ground until the ceremony if you must. I will see to the business of saving my kingdom."

Upon hearing his words Tanthia collapsed, all strength gone.

"You're so cold," she sobbed. "So cold. The stones in the walls are warmer than your heart."

Albekizan turned from his mate and stormed away, grinding his teeth in anger. But when he reached the end of the hall he stopped and turned to study his fallen queen, her crimson wings stretched forward across the ancient bedrock, her body heaving with sobs. Albekizan walked back and crouched beside his queen. Touching her shoulders, he helped her to rise. He brushed his talons across the delicate scales of her cheeks.

"Tanthia, my love, it pains me to see you grieve. Nonetheless, mourning is a mother's burden, and her luxury. My duty is to avenge my son. I must go and consult with my advisors as to the swiftest path to achieve justice. Later, when the moon has risen and the day's work is done, I will join you at the Burning Ground and watch as Metron lights the pyre. Then I will hold you and a.s.sist with the burden of grief. Go now. Wait with our fallen son, until the night comes."

Tanthia stood, her legs still trembling, but her head held high. "Yes, my king," she whispered, and returned once more to the nest chamber.

Albekizan turned away and saw that Bander now conferred with another guard in panicked, hushed voices.

"What is it?" Albekizan demanded.

Bander snapped back to attention. "Sire, my guards have searched every room of the castle. Vendevorex cannot be found."

"No doubt the wizard plots some dramatic entrance," Albekizan said. "He thinks it beneath his dignity to simply walk into a room. Call off the search. I'll wait no longer. Come."

VENDEVOREX, IN FACT, did not consider it beneath his dignity to simply walk into a room. Dignity played no part in his comings and goings; strategy was the key to his movements. He'd served Albekizan for close to fifteen years and he'd decided long ago that life would be more comfortable for him if he maintained his own agenda. Thus, while the night had found Albekizan and Zanzeroth in frenzied pursuit of Bitterwood, Vendevorex had chosen a different course. He'd been present in the forest at Bodiel's murder scene, watching invisibly from a tree as Zanzeroth pointed out Cron's and Bitterwood's trails. As the hunting party left in pursuit of Bitterwood, Vendevorex followed Cron's path. It wasn't that he was unconcerned with the capture of Bitterwood. He was simply confident that the deed was within Zanzeroth's grasp. The old tracker could follow a single snowflake through a blizzard. And when they caught up to the Bitterwood-or to the person pretending to be him-it seemed likely that that the small army accompanying the king would prevail. How dangerous could one man be, after all? did not consider it beneath his dignity to simply walk into a room. Dignity played no part in his comings and goings; strategy was the key to his movements. He'd served Albekizan for close to fifteen years and he'd decided long ago that life would be more comfortable for him if he maintained his own agenda. Thus, while the night had found Albekizan and Zanzeroth in frenzied pursuit of Bitterwood, Vendevorex had chosen a different course. He'd been present in the forest at Bodiel's murder scene, watching invisibly from a tree as Zanzeroth pointed out Cron's and Bitterwood's trails. As the hunting party left in pursuit of Bitterwood, Vendevorex followed Cron's path. It wasn't that he was unconcerned with the capture of Bitterwood. He was simply confident that the deed was within Zanzeroth's grasp. The old tracker could follow a single snowflake through a blizzard. And when they caught up to the Bitterwood-or to the person pretending to be him-it seemed likely that that the small army accompanying the king would prevail. How dangerous could one man be, after all?

Cron's trail led for several hundred meandering yards through the thickets of the forest. Vendevorex didn't possess Zanzeroth's skills as a tracker, but he didn't need them. The king had been right. These slaves left a trail anyone could follow.

At last he found the young slave hiding behind a fallen log with a shelter of branches pulled over him. It wasn't a horrible hiding place, except that Cron's teeth were chattering loud enough that he sounded like some sort of nocturnal woodp.e.c.k.e.r.

From ten feet away, Vendevorex said, "I am your friend, Cron."

Cron gasped, then clenched his jaw, silencing his chattering teeth.

"You have nothing to fear," Vendevorex said. "Rise, I wish to help you."

"W-who are you?" Cron whispered.

"Tonight, I am your last, best hope," Vendevorex said. "You're safe for the moment. But when the king finds his prey tonight, I have no doubt he'll come looking for you. It's best that you be long gone."

Cron rose into a crouch, looking around the dark forest with fear in his eyes. Vendevorex chose to remain invisible. But he placed a burlap sack near the log and backed away.