Daxton - Episode 7
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [2,204 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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“The man arrived just as he said, my lord.” Only one guard did most of the talking while the other remained still and silent with a scowl on his face. “And he had a child with him.” King Rowan listened carefully with his eyes closed, as he would when deep in thought.
Corwinn was nearby listening as well, ready to interrupt if he felt his lie would begin to unravel. “And where are they now? Have you taken them to the dungeon?” He stormed towards the guard who did not so much as flinch, even as Corwinn walked right up to his face.
The guard was not accustomed to answering anyone who was not a ranking officer or his king, but in this case, he made an exception. “We were not instructed to apprehend him, sir. And he did not give us cause to seize him.”
“Why did you not order that madman be put in irons? He willingly left his post to save his own life. He’s a traitor to the crown,” Corwinn said, turning his anger towards King Rowan who sat in his chair, admiring his nails.
“Some say Corwinn the Coward is a traitor who should be put in irons,” the guard, who could remain silent no longer, said under his breath, but made sure Corwinn heard him. He did not appreciate the way his king was being addressed.
“What did you say?” Corwinn readied to teach this guard a lesson and the guard gripped his spear so tightly his knuckles began to turn a pale white.
“Enough, both of you,” King Rowan shouted. Both men stood at attention and faced the king. “Go back to your duties,” he said, not looking at his guard at all. He only ever bothered to learn the names of the highest-ranking men in his army, but they all respected him and would give their life for him. All except the man who now stood before him. King Rowan made a point to study those around him closely, especially those he ever suspected of betraying him. He has a record of catching them all before they had the opportunity to dethrone him. He accomplished this by keeping his enemies closer to him. When Corwinn was his best general, before he was discovered to be a ‘coward,’ King Rowan never worried, but now that he’s a man with desperation wreaking from his pores, he needed to be kept close.
“I do not understand you my lord. The king I knew would never stand for a traitor.” Corwinn stood near an open window and looked out across the castle wall. There he saw a man and young child holding hands, their heads hung low, walking in the distance. He smiled to himself at his cunning and timing to have arrived at the castle before they did. But he had expected both to be locked away in the dungeon for life, not walking free. He wanted to finish them both off, yes, even the child. They were a loose end he did not wish to encounter later.
“Do you expect me to believe that woman knows I have summoned the Paragon? How could she? No one knows.” The king shifted slightly in his ominous chair, which was too large for his small size, but he insisted on keeping it as it was installed by his predecessor. King Rowan steepled his fingers in front of his lips, his elbows on the arms of his chair, and he considered what Corwinn told him earlier. “No, I just cannot believe it.”
“I tell you your captain knew. He told her before taking his own life. If it was not true how else would I come to know you have summoned it? What concerns me is not that she knows, but your reasons for summoning such a thing. If what you have told me of it is true, I cannot understand what could’ve driven you to such lengths.”
“That woman will not go away that is why!” The king slammed his fists on the arms of his chair. He stood in annoyance and started pacing back and forth, something Corwinn remembered the king would do when he was first crowned, pretending to be deep in thought on some serious matter, when really, he had no clue how to govern an entire kingdom. Now, however, he walked with purpose and a rage unlike anything Corwinn had ever seen before. He did not realize just how much King Rowan detested and despised Captain Silverblade. So much so, he was willing to do anything to put a stop to her. Even call upon Death itself.
“Could you not call upon the other kingdom’s as I suggested to you long ago? Together all of you could have put a stop to her then and you wouldn’t have need to unleash such an evil thing?”
“How would you know where we are today? You, who abandoned me in your cowardice. You, who choose to drink rather than fight. You know nothing of what has gone on since you have left. You have no right to question my commands. You gave it up long ago.” He slumped back in his chair and the rage he had all but disappeared. He held his head in his hands in defeat. “I had to do it, Corwinn. I could see no other way.”
“What of Pradore?”
“Please, that fool. He is worst of them all. I sent word to him of my plan. Your plan admittedly. And do you know what he did? He suggested I pay the wench and be done with her! Can you believe him? I have since ordered our people to never accept their trade and they are not allowed to dock on our waters ever again. I will not do business with someone who rather pay a ransom to her than fight with honor, dignity and loyalty.”
“What of the others, then? Surely, they—.”
“Feel the same as King Tassis. None of them want to take her, or that blasted Shadow of hers, on. They feel she is untouchable and in a moment of brief despair, I believed they were right. I did what I thought was right. What else could I do? The people of Gaspar are losing money and patience with me. They expect a king who will do what’s best for them. I promise them safety and prosperity. And in return they trust me to trade their labor for the money it’s worth. You’ve seen what it’s like out there. Another year like this and we’ll be in worse shape than Diamar.” Corwinn winced at the comparison. Diamar was a deserted wasteland, made inhabitable, because of the Great Dragon War and would likely never recover. No kingdom ever wanted to be compared to that of Diamar.
“Where is he?”
The king looked up at Corwinn surprised at the question. “Who? Oh, him. He’s probably roaming about the castle I suspect. When you summon the Paragon,” he whispered, “you don’t really control where it goes or how it does what you ask. A rather vicious consequence to summoning it in the first place.”
“But a wise choice, my lord.” A voice as cold as ice cracked through the room from the window where Corwinn had just stood. It was like he appeared out of nowhere and Corwinn wondered how long he’d been in the room before he decided to speak. “You must be Corwinn the Coward?”
Corwinn’s face flushed a bright red and balled into fists. This Paragon he had heard countless nightmarish tales about did not look as scary or intimidating as he’d imagined. In fact, he looked rather insignificant in size and stature. And Corwinn would have torn him limb from limb if not for the fact he found he couldn’t move. “What have you done to me?” He managed to stammer through his clenched jaw.
“What you are experiencing right now is what I like to call Reversal. Whatever you wish to do at this very moment the opposite is occurring with just as much intensity. I am doing nothing to you. This is of your own design. If you want it to stop then you must stop wanting to harm me.” Corwinn’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets the harder he tried to move to attack. The king looked on with excitement and fear at what was being done to Corwinn.
“Enough!” King Rowan shouted. “Release him. I did not summon you to kill him.” With a look of disgust at being given orders, the Paragon released the reversal spell he placed upon Corwinn. Instantly, his body relaxed so much so he nearly fell to the floor as his knees buckled under the weight of his body. He leaned upon an arm of the king’s chair to steady himself.
“How could you release such a thing? Why did you not call on me? I could rid you of this Captain Silverblade and without the use of parlor tricks.” That last jab was aimed at the Paragon, but his comment was ignored, which only made Corwinn even more angry that he could not affect this inhuman thing.
“You can kill her? Ha! I’d like to see you get near her. I bet you couldn’t. My king, you cannot tell me you’re seriously considering listening to this drunk. All he does is imbibe all day. What good would he be to you?” The Paragon’s eyes glowed red as he stared into Corwinn who backed away once feeling returned to his legs.
“Could you really kill her Corwinn?” The king looked to his friend pleadingly. He could tell the king was looking for a way out of having to use the Paragon, but it was pointless, and both men knew it. Once it was let out the only way to put it back is once his purpose is complete.
“I can, my lord. Give me your army and I promise you I will set her precious Shadow ablaze and bring you her head. I will not rest until I have put an end to her. I promise this on my honor.”
The Paragon snorted with laughter at Corwinn’s words. “On your honor. Which honor is that? I will not have you here corrupting and twisting the mind of King Rowan.” He moved quickly towards Corwinn who matched him step for step in backing away from him.
“Enough, both of you! I fear I may need you both to defeat her. How can I count on you two to work together if you bicker over such pettiness?”
“Work together?” they both spoke simultaneously. Neither wished to work with the other. They both wanted the ear of the king for their own selfish reasons and had no intention on sharing this honor.
“That is what I want. Take it or leave it.”
“The Paragon works alone.”
“You do as I tell you. I know you are powerful. Much more powerful than I or any man. But I hold the key to your existence. You are here because of me and as quickly as I summoned you is as quickly as I can send you back!” The Paragon did not like being spoken to this way. king or not he wished to destroy this impudent man who dared talk down to him. He raised his hands to the king’s neck trying to strangle the life out of him, but his fingers remained just inches away, unable to completely close. “What you are experiencing now, as I have been told, is called the royal hold. I thought you knew of this, Paragon? Or are you getting forgetful in your old age?” Corwinn watched in shock as the Paragon continued to try and strangle the king. “Do not concern yourself with protecting me Corwinn. He cannot harm me. It is the deal, is it not, Paragon? Forged when you were joined with us against your will. In exchange for his freedom we can call on him whenever we choose, to do one task for us, but he cannot harm me or anyone in my family lineage. He knows it. Though I do not know why he still persists with this feeble attempt at strangling me.” With that last remark, the Paragon finally stopped and backed away, out of breath. To Corwinn he continued to seem less evil and more human.
“Fine. I will agree to work with him. But if you get in my way or do something stupid, I will kill you.” Corwinn knew his words to be true and hoped he would never be accused of committing either.
“I will do as you ask, my Lord, as long as you provide what I need in return?”
“Yes, General Corwinn, you shall have your army and as many ships at your command as needed. Just see that it is done. Now leave me. I have grown tired of both of you.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair to rest. The sound of a slight snore could be heard under his breathing as both Corwinn and the Paragon looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
The king had fallen right to sleep.