Feathered Dragon - Douglas Niles [113]
“Don Vaez is sending most of the fleet back to Amn with
the gold,” the navigator hissed. “We’ve got to an now. He’s given orders to sail with this evenings tide.”
“The repulsive dog!” Cordell hissed quietly. “I made an agreement with him. I told him where the gold was buried, in exchange for his promise to send the cleric to lend my man.”
Rodolfo looked at the pallid, groaning warrior and knew immediately that Don Vaez hadn’t kept his side of the bargain.
“Quick-the keys!” Cordell said, pointing to one of the guards. Rodolfo’s brawny companion pressed his sword slightly, and the guard gulped, quickly withdrawing a clinking ring of keys.
“It’s th-this one,” he stammered, identifying the proper key.
In the next instant, Rodolfo threw open the door, and Cordell and his men stumbled from the cell. They stood together in the barn, blinking in the bright lamplight.
“Tie them up. Gag them, too,” ordered Cordell.
“Beg the gen’ral’s pardon,” said one of the guards, slowly backing away from the sword at his throat. Cordell saw that the man looked vaguely familiar.
“Name’s Millston, sir. I served with you against Akbet Khrul and his pirates. I’d like to come with.. that is… I’m on your side, sir. I’ve heard about the giant and the trolls and them others. Sir, the only way we have a chance is if you’re in charge. That prissy courtier’ll get us all killed.”
Cordell studied the man and then made his decision. If he was to be successful, he needed a lot of Don Vaez’s men to come to the same conclusion as Millston.
“Glad to have you,” he said, nodding to Rodolfo’s accomplice. “Give him back his sword.”
The conspirators extinguished the lamp. They brought the feverish Katl from the cell and made him as comfortable as possible on a bed of straw. The other two guards, bound and gagged, were locked in the cell for good measure.
Cautiously they opened the door to the barn. The headquarters house stood across the compound, and men were moving about everywhere. A series of bright lanterns illuminated the top of the rampart to the south, on the side facing the grassy savannah.
Cordell realized that Don Vaez had organized a work crew that now labored to excavate the gold hidden in the rampart wall. The fort was being destroyed, just when its greatest threat marched toward them in the shape of Zaltec and his monstrous army!
“What’s that?” Urgency hissed through Grimes’s voice as the officer whirled, raising his sword. “Chical!” he added with relief.
Cordell saw the Eagle Knight advance from the shadows beside the shed. He clapped his friend on the arm, his throat tightening with emotion.
“I came to set you free, but 1 see others have done the task before me.”
“I’m glad you came,” replied Cordell quietly.
“I bring news,” whispered the Maztican, quickly explaining about his meeting with Halloran and the plan they had formed. At the same time, they heard a commotion arise among the men on the work crew. From their vantage point, they looked over the field toward Ulatos and clamored in excitement and alarm.
“That must be them!” said the knight.
“Let’s go!” cried Cordell, leading his small party at a trot toward the high walls of the fortress. “Follow me!” he shouted to the rows of tents sheltering Don Vaez’s men. The workers and guards turned in surprise to see Cordell climb the sloping earthen surface of the wall, turning to face the courtyard.
“Listen to me, men of the Sword Coast’ 1 warn you of a great danger. A monstrous force approaches, one that will require all your valor to face.” The captain-general’s voice rang throughout the fortress. The men of Don Vaez gathered below, listening carefully.
“We can face it, but we need allies. I ask you now-look into the field before you.”
The men on the wall top, working to excavate the gold, had already seen the savannah. Now they shared their knowledge with their companions in the fort below.