The Warlock Senator (Book 2) Page 24

  Orres watched the horseman ride up to the carriage. The side door opened a crack and the horseman leaned forward, obviously talking with whoever was inside. Orres turned about and saw the remaining masters filing out of the academy to converge on him in the courtyard. Orres walked up to Wendal and B’dargen. B’dargen stopped talking when he saw Orres approach, but the look on the man’s face unnerved Orres.

  “I see the others have assembled,” Orres said.

  B’dargen shrugged. “You created quite a stir last night, Master Orres. Now that the senator has come with instructions, I felt there was little need to wait for your approval to assemble.

  Orres nodded and put on a forced smile as he looked around and counted the other masters as they formed up around him. “Looks like we are all here.”

  “Save Lepkin and Dimwater,” Wendal replied.

  Orres frowned and turned back to face the carriage. They waited for several minutes after everyone had assembled. Contrary to last night, none of the masters could be heard chattering or murmuring.

  At last the carriage door swung open and Senator Bracken descended the steps to the ground. Orres had to check himself and close his mouth before anyone noticed his surprise. He studied the senator as he walked forward, flanked by two king’s guards. A trio of men appeared from the other side of the carriage, scrambling to carry a wooden box out ahead of the senator. They rushed up before them and placed the platform on the ground about fifteen feet away from where Orres stood. They took care to ensure it was level and stable before hurrying back to disappear behind the carriage once more.

  Senator Bracken stepped up onto the platform and surveyed the crowd. The bottom of his white robes waved in the gentle evening breeze. The flanking guards halted their horses just behind the platform and watched the crowd. Senator Bracken held his arms out to the gathered masters. “My fellow brothers, and sisters” he greeted. “I come to you with terrible news.” He paused for effect. “The senate has been attacked, and many of my fellow senators have been murdered.”

  Murmurs rippled through the gathered crowd, but Orres stood, stoic and still, watching the senator carefully.

  “It gives me no pleasure to say this, but one of our greatest heroes has betrayed the crown!” Senator Bracken’s shoulders drooped and he shook his head. “The senate tribunal met to decide the fate of a traitor, Lord Lokton, for inciting war with House Cedreau.”

  The murmuring grew into a cacophony of shouts, gasps, and protests. Master Orres would normally have silenced them, but he kept his eyes fixed on the senator, looking for any hole in the illusion so he might uncover who really stood before him. The knot in his stomach grew and he felt the hairs on his forearms and neck rise to stand on end as chills coursed through him.

  Senator Bracken patted the air and called for silence. “I know you all know those two houses well. These are troubling times indeed when the nobles forget their place and squabble over petty differences and greed.” He waited a few moments for the last of the whispers to die down before continuing. “The greatest treachery, however, came from one of your masters.”

  Orres’ heart skipped a beat and he felt a rage start to build up within him. He didn’t like where this was going.

  Senator Bracken looked to Orres and arched one of his gray brows at him. “Master Lepkin forced his way into the tribunal and desecrated the senate. Instead of enacting the just and righteous sentence, he attacked the senate and killed many of my colleagues. I, myself, barely escaped with my life.”

  Orres held his tongue, but others did not. Master Wendal stepped forward amidst shouts and protests. “Why would Master Lepkin do such a thing? He is one of the most honorable men within the kingdom!”

  Bracken turned a glaring eye on Wendal. “Hold your tongue,” Senator Bracken warned. His voice carried the weight of thunder, silencing all within the courtyard. “My mission here is twofold. I am to ascertain who here is loyal to the crown, and who else may have been involved with Master Lepkin.”

  Master Wendal shrank back to stand beside Orres. “Lepkin is an honorable man,” he whispered to Orres. Orres gave Wendal a slight nod to show his agreement and then raised a finger to his mouth.

  “We are all loyal to the king!” one of the masters shouted from the crowd.

  “We knew that cast-away was trouble!” another shouted in reference to Erik.

  “Yeah, the cast-away and Master Lepkin were always causing trouble!” another yelled out.

  Orres turned to discover who among his colleagues was speaking, but could not see through the sea of faces. He boomed over the din and commanded silence.

  “Let them speak, Master Orres,” Senator Bracken said.

  Orres felt the senator’s glaring eyes on his back. He turned to face the senator again, but offered no apology.

  Senator Bracken pointed to Master Orres. “We must hurry if we are to stop the chaos that Lepkin has unleashed on us. Even now there are riots and mobs in the streets in Drakai Glazei. Those riots will spread if we fail to stop them. Every able-bodied person is called upon to aid the king in bringing the traitors to justice. The task of apprehending Erik Lokton has fallen to me. I call upon all who are loyal to the crown to stand on Master Orres’ right hand. Those remaining on his left will be considered friends of the enemy and put in jail to stand trial after peace has been restored.”

  “Let’s go!” Master B’dargen yelled. “Let’s stop the traitors!”

  The two king’s guards trotted around to the front of the platform.

  Orres stepped forward, trying to salvage the situation before it spun out of control. “Forgive me senator, but you did not mention Erik was party to the attack in Drakai Glazei. How is he connected?”

  “He’s with Lepkin, that’s enough for me!” Master B’dargen shouted. “The two of them were as thick as thieves and they were always scheming together. If Lepkin attacked the senate, then you can bet Erik was involved!”

  Orres kept his eyes on Bracken. “That is not enough for me. If someone is pronounced a traitor, I need to know exactly what they have done.”

  Senator Bracken sneered wickedly. “My dear Master Orres,” he began. “You really don’t see it do you? Erik Lokton and Master Lepkin are the catalysts, just as your fellow master has declared. Tell me, how was Timon’s hand injured here at the academy?”

  Master Orres bristled, but managed to maintain his wits about him. “I filed the report,” he answered. “It is a matter of public record.”

  Senator Bracken chuckled. “Then everyone here knows that it was Erik who wounded him, and Master Lepkin who orchestrated the duels. Does that not make you stop and question their true motives behind the duels?”

  “Master Lepkin was teaching Erik a lesson in honoring his word,” Master Orres replied.

  Senator Bracken shook his head. “Master Lepkin was setting his plans in motion by inciting House Cedreau to violence!”

  Orres could hear whispers growing behind him. He was losing the argument. “I was present when Lord Cedreau came to House Lokton during Erik’s Konn Deta ceremony and attempted to dishonor the boy.”

  “But were you there for the subsequent murders?” Bracken shouted back. “I was charged with investigating them. I found evidence that pointed to Lord Lokton’s treachery. That is why he was arrested after he had started a war with House Cedreau and surreptitiously murdered Lord Cedreau under the pretense of negotiations. Then, when the tribunal assembled for Lord Lokton’s trial, Master Lepkin arrived and tore us apart to save the traitor from his fate.”

  The wave of angry protests and shouts all but deafened Master Orres and drowned his response in a sea of vengeful rage. Orres turned to Master Wendal. “What do we do now?” he asked as most of the masters made their way to stand far to Master Orres’ right.

  Master Wendal shrugged. “Perhaps we side with the devil for now in order to live another day,” he said.

  Orres shook his head. “That isn’t in my nature.” He turned to Senator Bracken.
“What would you have us do to prove our loyalty?”

  The senator’s sneer widened into a toothy grin. “We march to Lokton manor. There we will apprehend the traitors and bring them to justice.”

  Master Orres walked back several paces, pushing through the crowd and jumping up to stand on the edge of a fountain. He drew his sword and slapped the side against the bronze statue of a cherub spouting water. “I am loyal to the king!” he shouted. His voice boomed out over the din and echoed off the academy walls. “I am also headmaster here at Kuldiga Academy. I know Erik better than you. I know that most students never befriended him on account he was adopted and not born a noble. But, I tell you as sure as I am breathing here and now, that boy has a noble and true heart. He is no traitor.”

  “Watch yourself Master Orres,” Senator Bracken warned. “I have no qualms adding you to my list of traitors.”

  “And that is the problem,” Orres fired back. “You are quick to judge as long as it suits your purposes. If Master Lepkin attacked the senate, then he must have had his reasons! I have known him for decades and he has always been true!”

  “And what of Janik?” Senator Bracken retorted. “Didn’t you consider him to be honorable as well? It appears that you are no more than a simple fool, easily blinded by others.”

  Master Wendal walked over to stand in front of Orres. “I’m with you,” he said loud enough for many to hear.

  Master Orres glared back at Senator Bracken. “You are right,” he said. “My brother deceived me. He was a member of a warlock order that sought after dark arts.”

  “You only prove my point that you are not a reliable judge of character,” Bracken snarled.

  “Janik was not the only warlock to don a disguise and fool others was he, Senator Bracken?” Orres questioned. He wasn’t about to let the other masters be fooled if he could help it.

  “Whatever do you mean?” Bracken cackled.

  “You know exactly what I mean, Gondok’hr,” Orres shot back. “The reports I received said Senator Bracken was slain in the attack!”

  The crowd froze. A few masters made their way through the throng to stand with Orres.

  “Are you insinuating that I am a warlock?” Bracken asked. “You think a warlock could go unnoticed in the senate? Why do you fabricate such fantasies? Is it to save your friends, or is it because you are with them?”

  Several masters broke out of the crowd and joined behind B’dargen, who stood prominently where the senator had instructed those loyal to the crown to stand. Only a handful of masters remained undecided in the middle. After the groups were divided Master B’dargen stepped forward and addressed the Senator.

  “Senator Bracken, we stand with the king, and with you. We are ready to prove our loyalty however we can.”

  Senator Bracken looked to Master B’dargen and smiled wickedly. “Very well,” Senator Bracken said. He raised his hand and a group of seven horsemen came up to his side. He leaned down and whispered to one of them, who saluted in response and led the others to the group standing with Master B’dargen.

  “Something is very wrong,” Master Wendal said.

  Senator Bracken turned to the group of loyalists. “If you wish to prove your loyalty then join in with these seven king’s guards and take the others into custody. Don’t let any of them escape.”

  “Master Orres, he is turning them on us,” Wendal said.

  “I cannot allow them to get to Lokton manor,” Orres said. “If any of you wish to surrender, you would be wise to move away from me now.”

  “No, we stand with you.” Wendal said. “There shall be no deals with the devil today.”

  Orres smiled “Glad to see you come around,” he said. “On my mark, everyone will run into the main hall, we’ll make our way toward my office. There is an armory near there so those of us without magic can better defend ourselves.”

  “And those of us with magic?” Wendal asked.

  “Fall back with us, we’ll be stronger together.”

  Senator Bracken shouted over them. “Did you hear me, Master Orres?”

  Master Orres looked up to see the seven horsemen ready to charge beside the horde of angry masters. “I heard you,” Orres replied.

  “Surrender peacefully,” Master B’dargen ordered. “We will use whatever force is necessary to arrest you.”

  “Shame on you, Master B’dargen,” Orres replied. “All this time here at the academy and you throw your lot in with House Finorel in the hopes that he would help you. What did Gondok’hr promise you?”

  Master B’dargen blushed and bristled. “You all heard Senator Bracken. If they don’t stand with us, then they stand against us! You know what is at stake, you heard the message from the king. We were to await further orders, and now Senator Bracken has come and issued those orders. Will we idly sit by while others denounce the king?”

  “If I were you, I would surrender,” Senator Bracken said. “You are outnumbered and the king’s guards will not hesitate to slay traitors to the crown.” He raised his hand and seven more horsemen rode to join with the others.

  “We are not traitors,” Orres said. “But I would gladly take your head, coward. Stop this act and show us who you really are!”

  “He defies the king and tries to shift the blame onto me with this ridiculous accusation!” Bracken yelled. “Everyone here has heard what the king expects of them.” He then turned his glowering eyes back to Orres. “Take the traitors into custody if you can, kill them if you must,” he said.

  “It will be done,” Master B’dargen swore.

  Bracken quickly made his way back to his carriage. The rest of his cohort closed in around it, forming a defensive wall.

  “There are only seven of us,” Wendal said.

  Orres nodded and looked to the small group of undecided masters still standing between the two groups. “Wait for my signal,” Orres reminded Wendal.

  “Surrender!” Master B’dargen ordered.

  Orres turned and pointed his sword at B’dargen. “Come at us and I swear I will take your head myself you leach!”

  Master B’dargen blanched momentarily, only to have rage replace his fear. “You will not live through this day!” he swore.

  “Wendal, take the key to the armory.” Master Orres gave him an iron key and stepped forward. “It’s time for you to run, now!”

  “But what about you?” Wendal asked.

  Orres spun on the man, eyes ablaze and breath hot with battle fury. “Get them inside to the armory. Make your stand there, I will make sure you have the time to get inside.”

  “Let’s go,” Wendal said. He turned and started pushing the others toward the closest door.

  “They are trying to escape!” one of the king’s guards shouted.

  Orres shouted at the group standing in the middle. “Get inside to safety, now!” Some of them instantly burst into a sprint for the nearest door, while others stood there looking back and forth between the two groups. Orres tapped the side of his sword to his brow. “I hope you knew what you started, Lepkin.” He walked forward, swinging his sword and loosening his muscles. “Let Master B’dargen come first, unless he prefers to stand at the rear while others do battle for him!”

  The horsemen charged forward. Orres breathed in rhythmically, adjusted his grip on his sword, and widened his stance. Ravenous hooves tore at the ground as the soldiers sped toward him. To Orres’ horror, the king’s guards took down several of the masters that still stood in the middle. Many of the masters shouted and cursed the callous killings and started to flee or fight amongst themselves, but most standing with B’dargen still stood firm, shouting their loyalty to the king and denouncing Orres as a traitor. The shouts seemed to fade as Orres concentrated on the task at hand. He knew he was not the same as the great and mighty Lepkin, but these men were soon to find out that he was no meager, old has-been.

  The first rider lunged forward with a spear. Orres slashed down and to the side, sweeping the spear away as he spun to the side
and brought his blade up to slice the horse’s neck. The beast shrieked and went down hard, flinging the rider into the air to land in a heap of clanking metal several yards away. Orres maneuvered his sword to his left just in time to deflect a powerful chop aimed at the nape of his neck. He then deftly reached out with his left hand, grabbed the reins and yanked the horse around, stumbling the animal and giving him an open shot to the rider’s side with his sword. As he ripped his sword free he leapt atop the horse with the grace of a man thirty years his younger and turned to meet the other riders.

  He managed to dodge a series of quick stabs from the third challenger and lashed out with deadly accuracy, slipping his blade up under the small opening above the cuirass’ neck hole and below the jawline of the rider’s helmet. The man’s head fell limply to the side and the horse charged away.

  He turned to face the next rider, but failed to get his horse around in time. The rider slammed his mount straight in, pinning Orres’ leg and knocking his horse to the side. Somehow the animal managed to keep its footing, but Orres was at a disadvantage, struggling to turn enough to face his foe. Fortunately, he was able to avoid a savage stab to the chest, but his enemy cut back as he retracted, opening a gash on Orres’ shoulder.

  Orres roared out and pummeled the rider with the jeweled pommel of his sword. The pointed stub bore down through the helmet, bending the metal until the force of the blow knocked the rider back and out of the saddle. The man tumbled over the horse’s rump to land on his head on the ground.

  Master Orres turned to face the next rider, but instead he caught a blue ball of fire to the chest. He flew off his saddle and landed in the fountain. As he slammed into the ceramic tile bottom and the water crashed back over him the air left his lungs in a series of pearl-like bubbles. His spine popped and creaked, but he managed to sit himself up and emerge from the water.

  Horses galloped past as the rest of the king’s guard tried to run down the others. Orres turned and took heart when he saw that they had already made it inside. He turned back and saw Master B’dargen preparing another spell. Several masters lay at his feet, while others had formed a protective wall around B’dargen. “Second rate caster,” Orres mumbled under his breath. He knew that if Lady Dimwater had been the one to throw the spell, he would have been killed. Lucky for him, Master B’dargen was only her replacement. Orres jumped up and sprinted for the entrance, zigging and zagging as B’dargen threw more spells at him.