Dark Soul Silenced - Part Two (10 page)

Sarah’s initial shouts of fear had turned into whoops of pleasure.  For a few moments at least the rush of exhilaration and fear had banished thoughts of Jon’s death.  Daniel continued to almost fly up the cliff face, leaping from one foothold to the next.  Sometimes the jump was a few feet, others it was ten or fifteen.

Soon, very soon, he scrambled onto the top of the cliff.  As he’d expected there were no attackers on the side he had chosen.  They clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be able to escape that way.  Daniel turned back for a moment, raising his arm in farewell to Josef and the guards.  Josef returned the gesture.  Then Daniel turned and sprinted off into the forest, Sarah still tied to his back, using his speed to get well clear of any possible pursuit.

Part Four - The Bronze Order

Chapter Eleven

Josef lowered his arm as Daniel disappeared from sight, Sarah still tied to his back.  Whatever happened now, at least they had escaped.  They would be able to continue the search for Mary.  Now Josef had to focus on keeping his men alive and, hopefully, unharmed.

“Everyone all right?” he asked.

“
Nothing sitting in an inn with a tankard of beer wouldn’t fix,” replied Samuel.

The other guards chuckled and nodded in agreement, but Josef could sense the tension.  They all knew their position was hopeless.

“Well, unless anyone has any miraculous ideas to get us out of here I think we have to surrender.  Maybe this will all turn out to be a misunderstanding and that lot will be buying us a beer before the end of the day.”

This drew smiles but no more than that.  They knew the situation was bad.  Slowly each man nodded his assent to surrender.

Josef took a deep breath to calm himself.  He was painfully aware that with Daniel gone there was nothing to stop any crossbow bolts.  He moved to the right hand edge of the rock formation they huddled against and faced up the slope.  He was sure the leader would be in that direction, with the bulk of the force.

“
You have us outnumbered and trapped,” he shouted.  “I don’t know why you attacked us, but if you will guarantee that my men won’t be mistreated we are willing to surrender.”

“
You are in no position to negotiate.”  Whoever replied was clearly used to command.  His voice dripped with confidence.

“
Nevertheless, those are my terms.  They won’t change.”

Josef thought that just maybe he
was
in a position to negotiate.  If their attackers had wanted them dead they would be by now.  Those on the cliff above had a clear shot, yet not a single bolt had been fired since Daniel disappeared from sight.

As each moment passed without a reply Josef forced himself to stay calm — not easy when he was expecting to be struck by a bolt at any moment.  Finally the voice replied.

“Very well.  I give you my word, as a Major in the Bronze Order, that you and your men will not be mistreated.  Now, leave your weapons and walk into the open slowly, then lay down face first with your hands behind your head.”

Josef glanced back at the guards then stood tall.  Removing his sword he moved out into the open.  He heard the guards following.  Once he’d taken ten paces he lay down on the ground, placing his hands behind his head.  The others followed suit.

From that position it was difficult to see what happened next.  He heard running feet, caught glimpses of feet and legs — lots of them.  Then several people grabbed him.  While some held him down others dragged his hands behind his back and bound them with manacles.  He was turned over and pulled into a sitting position.  Something was dropped around his neck.  Glancing down he realised it was a locket.  Not just any locket, the same type that the Order used to stop a suspect making use of the dark powers.  What were these men doing with them?

Then he made the connection.  The Bronze
Order
.  Could this be an offshoot of his own Order?  Had they been captured by others who were also dedicated to the destruction of darkness?  If so, could he convince his captors that he was like them, that he and his men should be set free.

A gap opened in the crowd around Josef and a tall, slim man stepped through.  Wisps of hair that escaped from his helmet were white, yet he didn’t appear to be old.  Not young certainly, but in his late thirties at most.  The aura of power he gave off was in stark contrast to his apparent youth.  Josef was certain this was the one who had negotiated for their surrender.  This must be the Major.

The Major came close, piercing eyes studying Josef and the others.  He came to a stop several feet away.  Josef waited nervously for the man to speak, knowing the next few minutes would be vital.

Nathan sat by the crackling campfire, still seething inside over his showdown with Josef.  So much had happened that his head felt like it was spinning.  He couldn’t believe that it was only the day before that they had found the keep and chosen to enter.  Despite his fervent belief in the Order and the Almighty, Nathan had thought he was going to die several times.  The fact that the accursed Daniel was the one to save them all, or gave that impression at least, made things worse.  Nathan suspected the whole thing was staged to make those from the Order relax their guard.  Something Ser Josef had certainly done.

When they had charged from the entrance tunnel into the sunlight, leaving behind the horrors of the keep, Nathan had known the Almighty was with him.  He was blessed.  He could do whatever was needed, and he knew what he had to do.  It was time to return to Hammersgate, to the leaders of the Order.  Let them determine what was happening.  Let them deal with Josef and those he protected — Daniel, Jon and Sarah.

So Nathan had spoken to all the guards, those who had stayed outside and those who had experienced the horrors of the keep.  He made his case for returning.  He told them how Ser Josef had started to succumb to darkness when he was healed.  Cal had backed him up.  He was certain he’d won them over.

Then Samuel and Felix spoke up, urging the others to follow Josef, insisting that it was more important to follow the girl than to do anything else.  To Nathan’s horror two of the guards who had remained outside chose to side with Samuel and Felix, as did William.  That left only Nathan, Cal and two others to press for a return to Hammersgate.  Cal was badly wounded, unable to swing a blade and having to fight using a knife in his off hand.

Nathan could tell he had lost.  He wouldn’t give in though.  He was determined to return to the Order’s home and relate the events that had come to pass.  He and the other three started to make preparations to leave.

Surprisingly Josef had asked Nathan for a favour.  He asked that Nathan take William back to Hammersgate.  William had suffered a vicious head wound in the keep, one that would normally be fatal.  Using the dark powers Jon had healed William, but something was not quite right.  His reactions and thoughts were much slower than before.  Jon claimed it was due to the damage.  Nathan suspected it had something to do with the darkness used for healing.  Either way, Nathan had agreed to take William — mostly to save the guard from being exposed to any further corruption.

And then they had left.  Riding from the keep Nathan had turned back once and met Josef’s eye.  Nathan swore that the next time they met he would have sufficient forces to deal with Josef.  To capture him and put him to the question.  To expose the darkness Nathan was sure was developing within Josef.

They had ridden till late afternoon, then found a sheltered spot and built a small fire.  Nathan felt exposed with such a small force.  William was less than useless in a fight now, needing constant guidance and protection.  That left Nathan, the wounded Cal and two others.  If just three or four night walkers attacked Nathan’s group would be overwhelmed.  Travelling all night would be far worse though, as would having no fire.

His anger over the confrontation with Josef still burnt hot.  Memories of his humiliation were like acid.  He kept them at bay with thoughts of returning to the Order, of telling the masters about Josef’s treachery.  And thoughts of setting off after Josef with a large group of men.  Of finding him and bringing him down.  Of proving under question that darkness had taken Josef’s soul.

Nathan woke the next day feeling calmer, though the anger hadn’t completely left him.  Instead it had transformed into a coldly burning desire for vengeance.

Nothing had attacked during the night.  They ate breakfast and prepared the horses then set off once more.  Nathan was leading them towards the south-east.  Eastward so they would meet the coast and know where they were.  Southward towards Hammersgate.

The day was uneventful, though tiring.  Finding a path through the forest was hard work.  Several times they had to turn back and try a different route.

Part way through the afternoon they emerged from the forest to find themselves on the bank of a large lake.  The water looked pure and clear so Nathan decided to water the horses and take a break.

They had been there for around ten minutes when Nathan realised they were not alone.  A single horseman had emerged from the forest farther along the lake shore.  Spotting Nathan and the others he raised a horn to his lips and let out a blast.  The blast was answered by several others.

“
Do we leave?” asked Cal nervously.

“
No.  It sounds as if they have us outnumbered, and we don’t know the lay of the land here.  We wait for them to arrive.  The Almighty will protect us.  Who knows, maybe the Almighty sent them our way.”

“
I hope so,” replied Cal.  “We really aren’t in any shape to fight our way free!”

It turned out to be a short wait.  Soon a large group of riders trotted out of the forest, thirty or forty at least.  All were clearly experienced horsemen and looked hardened, tough.  None drew a weapon but a threat clearly hung in the air.  Then the group parted and a tall man rode through radiating an aura of command.  The man swung down from his horse and walked over to Nathan, who stood in turn and waited.

The man stopped several feet away and studied Nathan carefully.  Nathan stayed silent, waiting for the man to speak.  Wondering how the confrontation was going to go.  As the seconds stretched out he had to fight to stay silent, actually clamping his mouth closed.  Finally the man spoke.

“
Well, you are far from home.  It isn’t often our brothers from the south reach our lands.”  He smiled widely, and as he did so his men relaxed.  Nathan realised how tense he had been and relaxed himself, though he was startled by the man’s words.

“
Brothers… are you part of the Order too?”

“
Yes and no.  Not your order, but a similar one with exactly the same aims.  Ours is known as the Bronze Order, while yours if I’m not mistaken is simply known as The Order.”

“
It is.  Forgive me, I have never heard of the Bronze Order before.”

“
That doesn’t surprise me.  While our brothers from the south do find their way here from time to time we never find time to head south.  These lands are filled with darkness and evil.  Rooting it out takes all our time.  And over the years many of your brothers have strengthened our ranks, feeling they could do more to fight the darkness here with us than back in their own lands.

But where are my manners?  I am Major Zentmann.  What is your name?”

“Ser Nathan.”

“
Greetings Ser Nathan.  And what brings you so far from home?”

“
Now
that
is a long story.”

“
Excellent!  I like stories.  We will rest here and share our food with you while you tell me your tale.”

Nathan studied the newfound friends carefully as they organised themselves to prepare food and look after the horses.  He soon noticed things that supported the Major’s story.  Some of the more senior men wore protective equipment of similar design to Nathan’s own.  When the Major produced a Purity Orb to test Nathan and the others it completely convinced Nathan.  They all passed the test of course, even William which pleased Nathan.  Clearly being
healed by the dark power had left no lasting darkness on William’s soul.  This time.

Convinced that they were truly amongst friends Nathan relaxed and started to tell the tale of their journey, from starting out in Hammersgate through finding the girl and her family.  He spoke of the night they were attacked, when the girl was taken, and of the creature known as Rafael that had been responsible.  He spoke of the terrible creature that had attacked Ser Josef, and of Ser Josef being healed by the dark arts.  Then the tale moved on — through seeking Mary to finding the keep and finally fighting their way clear.  He spoke of the betrayal by the rest of the guards who chose to stay with Josef, and of his determination to return to Hammersgate.

The Major sat in silence for several minutes after the tale was finished, deep in thought.  Finally he shifted position and studied Nathan carefully.

“
Yours is a dark tale.  Even darker than you realise.  We know of this Rafael, and of the darkness he spreads wherever he goes.  Our order has fought against him countless times through the centuries.  We have spoilt many of his plans, saved many from his darkness, but far from all.  And we have never been able to trap him, to destroy him.  Now you may have given us the chance.  I believe I know where he is taking the girl — to the town of Echtberg.  That is where our order is based, but there have always been rumours of there being a powerful artefact of darkness hidden somewhere within the town.  An artefact far too large to be moved.  Our investigations suggest that is true, but we have never come close to finding it.  Until now.  Now we have a lead.  Now we have a chance to trap and destroy the foul creature once and for all.

First there is another problem to deal with.  The two you travelled with who manifested dark powers, the girl’s father and this mysterious friend.  You were right to be suspicious of them, especially this Daniel.  We have fought his kind before.  The darkness they wield is quick to infect those around them.  I fear your leader is already struck down by it.  We cannot leave them roaming our lands, but far more importantly we cannot let them meet up with Rafael.  I am not sure about the girl’s father but there is no doubt Daniel is in league with Rafael.  If his darkness has infected enough of the party he will lead them all to Echtberg, if not he will simply slip away one night and make his own way there.  Either way, when he and Rafael join forces they will become much stronger, possibly too strong for even the Bronze Order to resist.  If they manage to sacrifice the girl then they truly will be unstoppable.”