Black wizards - Douglas Niles [135]
He told her about his father – their father, really – and he held her as she cried for the king. Then he recounted his journey to Callidyrr and his decision to fight the king. He explained about the prophecy, his doubts about its meaning. He concluded with Pontswain's and O'Roarke's refusals to join him.
She, in turn, described her own nightmare of death and desecration. Tristan sat numb; she had needed his help so desperately, and he had been…
"Don't," she soothed, sensing his guilt. "We each had our own tasks to perform, and we did them. Perhaps yours will see more success than mine did."
"We can hope – and fight! I will return to Corwell to raise an army!" With Robyn here, Tristan's confidence soared.
"But remember," she said. "This is more than the work of one king – even one helped by black magic. This must be the design of some unspeakable god!"
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" called the prince, reaching for his sword.
"Lord Roarke sends word, my prince," called a voice. "The halfling has returned from Callidyrr, and he brings news!"
"Pawldo?" asked Robyn. "He's here, too?"
They raced into the great room of the inn, where Daryth and Hugh O'Roarke had been talking for most of the evening. He saw Pawldo settling into a soft chair before the fireplace, and a young girl – Fiona, he suddenly realized – standing awkwardly to the side.
Canthus was there, too. The moorhound gave a bark of joy and bounded to the prince, nearly knocking him off his feet. The dog then pounced upon Robyn with even more enthusiasm, wriggling and wagging his tail.
"Robyn!" cried the halfling, elbowing the dog aside to embrace the druid. "What are you, I mean how did you…?"
"It's good to see you, too," she smiled, releasing him. "I hear you've been keeping my prince out of trouble!"
"When he'll let me" sulked the halfling. "Of course, then he and Daryth go off and leave me to my own devices, not bothering to tell me that they've come back here! So I sit -"
"I am sorry about that, old friend. There were a few complications at the palace."
"That's what Daryth claims, too. At least you two outlaws took the time to get your stories straight. Hanging around with me has done you some good after all!"
Pawldo suddenly looked at Fiona, standing somberly.
"I'm afraid we bring dire news," he began. "Fiona's father brought us word of a mustering of the High King's army. Devin must have been betrayed – his house was attacked, and he gave his life to see Fiona and me to safety."
The others bowed their heads for a moment in respect to the fallen agent. Hugh O'Roarke went to Fiona and took the girl in his arms. "He was a brave man, your father. I know he would be very proud of you."
"He'll only be proud if you and your men do something!" she cried in sudden rage. She pulled angrily from his embrace. Her red hair swung around her head, and her eyes flamed. "And I don't think that's likely, as long as you have your little hole in the woods to hide in!"
"The rest of the news," interjected Pawldo quickly, "is that the entire Scarlet Guard marches on Doncastle!"
Hugh looked dully at the halfling. The air seemed to drain from his body and he shrank into a chair to collapse, holding his head in his hands. Suddenly, he looked up at the prince and glared.
"This is your fault!" he growled. "You have brought this upon my town!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Robyn said sharply. "There is a doom stalking our islands, plaguing the Ffolk, and it is far more terrible than the acts of this pathetic king. It seems that the danger is now focused upon your town. So fight it! You have brave warriors here! Stop wasting all this time and get ready to defend yourselves!"
"In times past, we had the wizard Annuwynn at our service," Vaughn Burne pointed out. "Now we do not, and we have a killer at large in our city."
"I thought the killer died in the attack on Robyn," said Pontswain. "That sorceress you described to us."
"I suspect that the killer is still out there.