Knights The Heart of Shadows

chapter 16: The Secret of Invisibility

Now that the Hand of Tharnin had been dealt with and the hostages were free, Dremlock turned its focus toward the mission to retrieve the Black Flamestone. Taris called a secret meeting in the Dining Hall, with only the members of the Divine Shield present (and a trusted Orange Squire who was there to update the official records).

"I received a message from our Lord Knight today," Taris announced. "It appears that Bellis has sent a large battalion in our direction, from Brothlor Kingdom. At least, the spies believe they are on route to Dorok's Hand."

"They bring stout siege engines," said Furlus, frowning. "If they can manage to get them up here, the gates of Dorok's Hand will not hold."

Lannon's heart sank at hearing that news. At last, Bellis was riding against the Divine Knights and there was sure to be a vicious war. He'd been hoping somehow it could be avoided even though logic told him war was inevitable.

"Bellis rides against us?" said Daledus. "But why? This is just a rugged mountain keep occupied by a small battalion of Knights. This move doesn't make sense."

"On the contrary," said Taris, "I believe it does. We have the Eye of Divinity, the White Flamestone, and now, the Hand of Tharnin. That surely makes us the prime target of King Verlamer. Once Bellis has dealt with us, it will turn its attention to Dremlock Kingdom."

"Then we must abandon Dorok's Hand," said Trenton. "We cannot possibly withstand the might of Bellis."

"Their battalion," said Taris, "consists of at least a thousand Knights on horseback and three large siege engines. They will attempt to smash down the gates and then engage us in close-range combat in the tunnels, where they will hope to crush us with sheer force of numbers."

"A thousand Knights?" said Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered. And our own siege engines are still resting on the shores of the Grey Lake. We have only arrow and lance. And Bellis' siege engines are very sturdy."

"Sturdy, and quite maneuverable," said Furlus. "I suspect they will indeed be able to get them up the narrow mountain paths. I agree that we must abandon this fortress, for it will not work to our advantage to remain."

"What of the White Flamestone?" Prince Vannas asked. "Surely Bellis' siege engines aren't strong enough to resist that power."

"Correct," said Taris. "As far as we know, nothing can withstand the White Fire. Not even Glaetherin, it appears. Therefore, we can destroy the siege engines before they ever reach Dorok's Hand."

"Ride out to confront them?" said Furlus, his eyes blazing. He sat at the head of the table, and his beard was the width of the tabletop. He wore a full set of Glaetherin armor, including a spiked helm. "Indeed. Why should we hide out in here and wait to be slaughtered? We can set up an ambush for them."

"How long do we have?" asked Trenton.

"They could reach us in about a week," said Taris, "though it's impossible to know for sure. It all depends on their speed of travel. So the question is do we ignore the threat of the Black Flamestone for now--or try to strike quickly and gain possession of it? Old Hammer Hall is only a half-day's journey from here. And if we decide on a quick strike, should Lannon be involved?"

"We will need the Eye of Divinity," said Trenton, "if we are to have any hope of overcoming Bellis. To send Lannon away, as Bellis approaches, would be folly. I suggest we send only Shennen and his Blue Knights."

"We don't need Lannon," said Shennen, "but his power would allow us to locate the Black Flamestone more quickly and easily, and with less risk. The mission is suitable for the Eye of Divinity. This is why Lannon was recruited by Dremlock. He is most effective when used in this fashion."

"Yet Lannon would be very helpful in defeating Bellis," said Taris. "And defeating Bellis is our top priority."

"Will all due respect," said Vannas, "what can Lannon do? He is a great warrior, no doubt. He proved that by defeating Vorden and his Hand of Tharnin. But can a single warrior--however great--make much of a difference?"

Lannon was wondering that himself. The Eye of Divinity seemed terribly limited compared to the power of the White Flamestone.

"Lannon could help us immensely in this war," said Taris. "The power of the Eye could, for example, break a single gear that could stop a siege engine. And the Eye could discover the intentions of our foes, giving us a significant advantage. But aside from that, a great warrior can inspire other warriors on the battlefield. There is a reason the Dark Watchmen struck terror into the hearts of their foes."

"Nevertheless," said Shennen, "the Dark Watchmen favored stealth and precision over outright warfare. It was the fact that they were often hidden behind the scenes that made them so feared. Lannon's power would be wasted on the battlefield. He should come with us to Old Hammer Hall."

"If I may add my expert opinion," said Jace, with a wry smile, "Shennen is correct. I know well the history of the Dark Watchmen. They were sometimes referred to as The Invisible Blades because they stayed in the background. Aside from being Blue Knights--warriors of stealth--the bearers of the Eye are certainly best suited to focused missions. To place Lannon in heavy combat would be a poor use of his abilities."

Taris sat in silence for a time. Then he nodded. "Yes, Lannon should help locate the Black Flamestone. We must get that device away from the Blood Legion at all costs. We already witnessed the evil power it can unleash in the form of that Specter. The rest of us will ride forth and set an ambush for Bellis."

"I assume," said Trenton, "that our Lord Knight is planning to send reinforcements."

"No," said Taris. "I sent a message informing them that we will deal with Bellis alone."

Trenton's eyes widened. "What? Without a vote?"

Taris grimaced. "Must we vote on everything? Furlus was in agreement, so the vote wouldn't have mattered. Had you opposed us, you would have been overruled. If you wish, you can enter an official objection into the records."

"But why did you do that?" asked Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered, so why not ask for some help?"

"Dremlock cannot afford to spare any Knights," said Furlus. "The kingdom is sure to attacked in the near future."

"So what of Dorok's Hand?" asked Daledus. "If we ride forth, the Blood Legion may return to occupy the fortress."

"That doesn't matter anymore," said Taris. "We came here to eradicate the Blood Legion, and we failed. We had been aware of the threat of Bellis for years, and when Bellis' shadow grew longer recently, we tried to finish off the Legion so one threat to Dremlock would be dealt with. But Bellis has moved swiftly and now demands our full attention. Sadly, the Blood Legion has avoided destruction once again--just as they have so many times over the centuries."

"Yes, we failed," Furlus muttered. "Dorok's Hand was one of three fortresses we intended to capture. The other two were Blombalk and Old Hammer Hall. The Blood Legion destroyed itself at Blombalk, doing our work for us. That leaves Old Hammer Hall as the last important Legion fortress. Yet with Bellis on the move, we dare not risk an assault on Old Hammer Hall. That's a difficult fortress to break into and would surely cost the lives of many Knights."

"So we're that close to victory over the Blood Legion," said Daledus, "and we can do nothing? What a shame."

Taris shrugged. "Bellis likely has an alliance with the Legion. So now they are one and the same. All threats to Dremlock are one force against us, under the power of the Deep Shadow."

"Dorok's Hand was difficult to secure," said Daledus. "It seems a wretched thing to have to surrender it."

Furlus nodded, his expression bitter. "Yet Dorok's Hand must be abandoned. We don't have the Knights to spare to keep it occupied."

"Is there a way we can destroy it?" asked Daledus, "as we did Blombalk fortress?"

"Short of bringing down the mountain," said Taris, "I know of no way it could be done. And even if the White Flamestone could do it, it would take far too much time. We don't have weeks to stand around blasting at rocks. But we can, and will, burn down the gates. They will not be easily rebuilt."

"If we're abandoning Dorok's Hand," said Trenton, "is it necessary even to confront Bellis at this time? Perhaps we should ride for Dremlock."

"It is necessary," said Taris. "The war with Bellis has begun. We have a chance to show them the power of the Divine Knights."

"Then the issue is settled," said Shennen. "We will ride out for Old Hammer Hall under cover of darkness. Meanwhile, the rest of you will burn the gates and take your chances on the battlefield."

Shennen fixed his stern gaze on Lannon. "Well, Blue Squire, are you ready to become invisible?"

Lannon nodded, though he wasn't sure what that meant.

***

Later, Lannon stood alone with Shennen in a secret training room for the Blue Knights. Shennen wore an outfit Lannon had never seen before--one that seemed to be made of dark blue, lightweight armor plates that moved fluidly with his body. He also wore a mask, with a headdress set with blue sapphires, that left only his eyes exposed. Hanging from his belt was his Flayer and a short sword, along with a number of throwing daggers. The belt also held several pouches.

"This is the real armor of a Blue Knight," Shennen explained. "Reserved only for special missions." He pointed to an oak chest. "I had some crafted just for you. You will also find a throwing dagger with it."

"I have a throwing weapon," said Lannon. He showed the Glaetherin star to Shennen.

Shennen inspected the weapon and nodded. "This will suffice. Guard it well, for it is a good blade."

Lannon put the armor on. It was a full suit, including boots designed for stealth, protecting him from neck to feet. The headdress, however, did not contain jewels as Shennen's did. Lannon put his Birlote cloak on over the armor, but he found he didn't need his fur cloak. The suit of armor kept him warm.

"That armor was crafted by Olrog Blacksmiths," said Shennen. "It resists both excessive heat and cold and can deflect some weapon attacks. It is not exceptionally strong, however, so your goal is to avoid getting struck in combat."

Lannon attached his Dragon sword to the belt. The armor was so light and fluid he barely noticed it, and it made him feel powerful--like a true warrior. However, Lannon disliked all armor and would have preferred not to wear it.

"Now you must learn the secret of invisibility," said Shennen. "It is the ability to become unseen that gives a Blue Knight his true power. Look around this chamber very carefully and tell me what you see. Do not use the Eye."

Lannon looked around. He saw a circular room with stone walls, about forty feet in diameter, lit by two lanterns that sat on crates. The room contained three practice dummies, some weapon racks, and a bench. Lannon scanned the room slowly, looking for any hidden details, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Suddenly, a Blue Knight was standing before Lannon with a Flayer pointed at his throat. Lannon took a step back in shock.

The Blue Knight sheathed the blade.

"He was standing in this room the whole time, Lannon," said Shennen. "In plain sight. Yet you failed to catch even a glimpse of him."

"How is that possible?" asked Lannon, still gazing in shock at the Blue Knight who'd materialized before him.

"The sorcery of the mind," said Shennen. "The easiest path to invisibility is simply to make someone believe you're not there. This Blue Knight projected his will into your mind and made your gaze move right past him. A true master of invisibility can walk into a crowded room and no one will notice him. However, once someone becomes aware of you, the sorcery will cease to work. You can unlock this ability with extensive practice."

"But my Knightly Essence is weak," Lannon reminded him. "I can't even create fire in a blade."

"Perhaps the Eye can help you," said Shennen. "The Eye can act as a much stronger version of Knightly Essence at times."

"How long would it take me to master the technique?" asked Lannon. He doubted he could learn it before their mission to Old Hammer Hall.

"I don't know," said Shennen. "I myself have not mastered it. However, there is one who has--a Birlote sorcerer on loan from Borenthia. His name is Aldrek Windspear, and he is a true master of invisibility. In fact, he is in this room right now--though you could never glimpse him without the Eye. He is a guardian of the East Tower, and you may have sensed him watching you many times."

Lannon nodded. He'd occasionally sensed an unseen presence in the East Tower, but had never really investigated it.

"Aldrek will attempt to make you invisible," said Shennen. "However, his power works best if you can assist him. In a moment, an Orange Squire will enter this room. She is a highly trained observer who is supposed to take note of anything unusual and report it. You must begin projecting your will into her mind before she even sets foot in here. So get to it!"

Lannon moved close to the chamber wall and summoned the Eye. He projected it out in a field, sweeping the chamber, and he focused on being unseen. He'd never used the Eye in this fashion--trying to force his will into someone's mind--and it felt awkward and uncomfortable.

Shennen and the other Blue Knights stepped out of the room. Then the Orange Squire entered. She was a plump Norack girl with black hair and very pale skin, and she wore her Orange sash over a blue dress. She had an aura of importance for an Orange Squire.

She scanned the room slowly--and paused when her eyes moved toward Lannon. His heart racing, he focused the Eye directly on her, insisting she not be able to see him. She hesitated, and then her gaze moved past him. Having examined the room in detail, she left.

Then Shennen returned alone. "Well done, Lannon."

Lannon let the Eye falter. "So it worked?"

"She didn't see you," Shennen replied. "However, she did note that something in the room unnerved her. She could feel the presence of the Eye somehow. That is unfortunate, but there is nothing to be done about it. If the Eye gives you away, it is not true invisibility. However, unless you're an elite Birlote sorcerer, learning the art of invisibility usually takes tremendous talent, dedication, and practice. Only a few Blue Knights have ever mastered it. But the Eye has given you a great advantage, in spite of that obvious drawback."

"Then I became invisible," said Lannon, amazed.

"You did your best," said Shennen, "and I'm satisfied with the result. Again, it was limited invisibility, so bear that in mind. And, of course, you had Aldrek Windspear to help you."

Suddenly, a tall Birlote appeared out of thin air in the corner. His silver hair was concealed beneath a wide-brimmed black hat, and he wore a long black cloak. He smiled at Lannon, went to him, and shook his hand.

"I only helped you slightly, Lannon," said Aldrek. "The power of the Eye did most of the work. You should be proud of yourself."

"Thank you," said Lannon, excited.

"It's a start," said Shennen, "but because the Eye almost gave you away, I suggest you simply allow Aldrek to conceal you on our mission. You should only attempt invisibility yourself if you have no choice."

"I agree," said Aldrek. "Yet Lannon's gift is extraordinary. I have never seen anyone learn this sorcery so quickly and with no training."

"Our survival may depend entirely on stealth," said Shennen. "We're going to try to enter a heavily fortified keep, where the core of the Blood Legion resides. We can only guess at what horrors will await us there. If we're discovered and captured, we will face torment and death. Our goal, of course, is to retrieve the Black Flamestone--but if Timlin Woodmaster gets in our way, then he will face the blade and Dremlock will be free of the threat of that traitor."