Black wizards - Douglas Niles [69]
"You should be asleep," said Trevor, rising to offer the prince his chair.
"I shall be soon. But we need to plan first."
"Are you certain you want to go to Caer Callidyrr?" asked the patriarch.
"Yes."
"Very well. The King's Road, the highway you took from Llewellyn, is certain to be patrolled in strength. It would mean almost certain capture for you to travel there. But there are other roads, trails really, that lead to the west of here, and then north, through Dernall Forest. The soldiers of the king do not venture into the forest much, but the forest has its own challenges. For one thing, the trails are few and difficult to follow."
"We have some woodcraft," said the prince. "We'll travel the forest roads."
"I can give you a map and some directions. You will have to trust to your good sense for the rest of your guidance." The cleric proceeded to sketch a spiderweb of winding trails onto a sheet of parchment. "You will be very weak for several days," he warned Tristan. "That wound would have killed most men, I'm certain. So have a care for yourself, and rest when you need to."
"Thank you, friar. We shall," said the prince. "I have but one question: Why have you done all of this for us?"
"The ways of my goddess are not for mortals to understand, not even her clerics. I but do her bidding. Remember this, if you think of nothing else: Chauntea is your ally. She hopes for the success of your mission, and she will aid you as much as lies in her power.
"Now that you are here, I understand. Your mission to Caer Callidyrr – no, don't tell me any more about it. But I understand that a king who hires monsters to protect himself from his own people cannot work for the good of those people or their land. This king is offensive to my goddess, and therefore her blessing falls upon your mission.
"May you ride like the wind and be as difficult to catch," concluded Patriarch Trevor.
The cleric's words seemed to have a pleasant effect. Tristan felt warmth spread through his body, and a feeling of benign goodwill descended upon him. "Thank you for everything," he said, clasping the patriarch's hand firmly. "You have given our mission new hope!"
"As you have done for mine, also," said the cleric quietly.
Then they slept, and when darkness fell the men mounted their black horses and slipped into the night, the great moorhound trotting watchfully ahead.
Bhaal wallowed in the fire pits of Gehenna, luxuriating in the sensual feel of lava fueled with fresh blood.
The god of death, lover of all murderous acts, was in fine fettle. His devotees, and even those opposed to him, were acting in concert to provide entertainment. But even more than entertainment, each act of killing strengthened Bhaal increasing his influence among the gods and enhancing his ability to interfere in the affairs of men.
And so Bhaal watched the events unfolding before him. He thrilled at the sight of the dead army that was defiling Myrloch vble. They would be his mightiest achievement when he was done, creating a legion of death that would bring the entire land beneath his baneful rule. Bhaal drooled at the thought of the young druid's blood warming his belly as Hobarth performed the ritual sacrifice.
He watched the events upon Alaron with less interest, but took mild note of the occasional body left in the wake of the fleeing prince. More than once he had thought that the death of the prince himself was imminent, but each time the mortals had managed to fend it off – just barely.
But Bhaal was patient.
X
Shapeshifter
The unicorn nuzzled Robyn's shoulder affectionately. The druid said nothing, but the weight of responsibility she had borne this day seemed to grow lighter.
She leaned back and looked at the great creature, child of the goddess herself. Kamerynn's white beard hung in a thick tuft from his jaw, and his ivory horn jutted proudly before him, more than four feet long.
His large eyes were bright and clear, and Robyn whispered a soft prayer of thanks for this miracle. Only a year earlier, the great unicorn had been blinded, his