The Road To Kalbakar, Wyrms of Pasandir #1

CHAPTER 12 - CAUGHT! (1)

From outside came the sound of a stone ricocheting against the cliff.

'Danger!' Jem shouted unexpectedly in my head. 'Those soldiers are not...' Her voice broke off and I turned around as four men entered the room, battle-axes in hand. Their eyes were bleak and their dark gray faces grim as death. Then a fifth strode past them, dressed as simple as the others, but just different enough to mark him as a person of rank. He was a kid my age, and his whole bearing exuded anger.

'Robbers!' he spat. 'Here where our brothers and sisters were murdered.' He turned to an older man with a small plume on his helm identifying him anywhere as an officer. 'Take them outside and kill them.'

Kellani showed her hands. 'Do not move.' Two pulsating balls of fire appeared in her hand palms. 'I don't know who you are, but I am a Kell broomrider on official business.'

The kid gaped at the fiery globes. 'Monks! Kill them!' he screamed. 'Quickly.'

'Step back, Amaj Mir,' the officer said. 'These people may be dangerous and your safety is paramount.' His face was calm as he said that, but the edge of irritation in his voice was unmistakable. He nodded to Kellani. 'I am First Lance Hornal, in service to the great Oshan Mir, Lord of Kalbakar. You are no monks.'

With a soft poof, the fires died. 'I am Broomrider Kellani. My companions are the mages Naudin and Eskandar.'

'Eskandar,' Hornal said, and his eyes narrowed. 'A mighty name. He looks like one of us, yet apparently he isn't.' The soldier turned to me. 'From where do you hail, lad, and what is your business here?'

I said the first thing that came into my mind. 'I am a seeker. Those buried outside were my kin, though I was too young to remember their names and faces.'

Amaj Mir brushed past the first lance and gripped my coat. 'You claim...' he said, his voice high with fury. 'You dare to claim them as kin? You...'

The kid was slightly bigger than me, and broader in the shoulders; a budding warrior. I touched his cheek with my hook. 'Unhand me.'

Our eyes met and I sent a thought into Amaj Mir's mind. My words are true.

He let go of my lapels and stumbled back. 'You... spoke in my mind. How?'

'It's the magic of my forebears,' I said.

'Amaj Mir.' First Lance Hornal's voice had the snap of authority. 'I bid you let me do the talking.'

The kid gave him a dirty look, but stepped back.

'We do know who are buried here, Eskandar,' the officer said. 'A great man's son, with his wife and several relations. They were murdered by robbers, and then those in turn were killed, but we don't know by whose hand. If you claim kinship to the martyrs, you have some mighty proving to do.' He glanced at the kid at his side. 'Not to me, nor to the young mir here, but to the great Lord Oshan, Master of the Reaches of Kalbakar.' He grunted. 'Master, when we have kicked those monks out, that is.'

'Hush!' the kid said. 'They'll hear us.' He glared at Eskandar. 'Perhaps those are monk spies.'

'We're not. I spent my early years fleeing from mad monks,' I said. 'Are they the same?'

'We will not discuss this here,' Hornal said. 'You three must come with us. Our lord will want to meet you and you can exchange information in relative security.'

I looked at the other two, for Jem had retreated to her bottle at the first hint of peril.

'What shall we do? Perhaps this is what we came for. Besides, I need to know more about my family.'