Chaos Reigning: The Five Kingdoms Book 10 Read online

  Chaos Reigning

  The Five Kingdoms Series

  Book X

  by

  Toby Neighbors

  Chaos Reigning

  © 2016, Toby Neighbors

  Published by Mythic Adventure Publishing, LLC

  Idaho, USA

  All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any print or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Cover art by Michael Clarke

  Copy Editing by Alexandra Mandzak

  Books By Toby Neighbors

  Avondale

  Draggah

  Balestone

  Arcanius

  Avondale V

  Wizard Rising

  Magic Awakening

  Hidden Fire

  Fierce Loyalty

  Crying Havoc

  Evil Tide

  Wizard Falling

  Chaos Descending

  Into Chaos

  Chaos Reigning

  Lorik

  Lorik the Defender

  Lorik the Protector

  The Vault Of Mysteries

  Third Prince

  Royal Destiny

  The Other Side

  The New World

  Zompocalypse Omnibus

  Dedication

  for Jay Fowler,

  I missed your birthday but I hope this makes up for it.

  And to Camille,

  you are my everything.

  Chapter 1

  There was a harmony to life at sea that soothed Roleena’s tortured soul. Her missing leg ached as if it were still attached to her body, and her dreams were filled with horrors, mostly of the wizard Zollin. But on the command deck of her ship, looking out across the endless waters, with her crew working together to sail her ship, Roleena felt a sense of control and power. The men of her crew feared her, and even though the sea was unpredictable it didn’t frighten her. She knew what to expect from the oceans and even the weather. The growing ache in her missing leg was a sign that foul weather was headed her way, but fortunately they were sailing into the largest natural harbor in the Five Kingdoms.

  Brimington Bay was a long, narrow inlet that made a perfect shelter during a storm. It was also the busiest harbor in Osla, a kingdom with water on three sides. Of course that was before the war, before the wizard Zollin had laid waste to Osla and most of its inhabitants. Some people thought of the wizard as a hero, but Roleena knew the truth. Disaster followed the young wizard and no one was safe from his foolish use of magic. She had vowed to change that, to take revenge on Zollin, but she needed help which was why she was sailing in Brimington Bay. She had to get to the Grand City, or what was left of it, to salvage books from the tower of the Torr. Her sole ally was also a wizard, but Branock feared Zollin and wanted him dead. So she had sailed south to get what the elder wizard needed to defeat their common enemy.

  Roleena had no illusions about Branock’s designs. He only wanted Zollin dead so that he could take the boy’s place, but Roleena had other plans. She knew that to destroy the wizard she would have to face many dangers, and she was prepared for that. She would deal with Branock if the need arose, but first she wanted revenge for the leg Zollin had cost her.

  There were ships already sheltering in the bay; many appeared to be common trade ships, but Roleena didn’t drop her guard. She knew the ships, even the innocent-looking ones, were filled with pirates and killers who wouldn’t hesitate to slit her throat and steal her ships. Worse yet, she knew that if her own crew had designs to mutiny, the lawless kingdom of Osla was the perfect place.

  “Just topsails,” she ordered Slice. “Take us in slowly.”

  “Aye!” the vile-looking sailor said.

  Slice was in a foul mood, as he had been since Roleena had threatened to leave him in port after the attack on Selphon City, but he had followed every order. The scar that stretched across his face and puckered the skin around it was a ghastly white color that contrasted from the dark tan he’d acquired from hours in the sun. It made him look unnatural, but Roleena knew he was just a man. She had no fear of Slice, only dread that she might have to make an example of him.

  “Signal the Eagle’s Cry,” Roleena ordered. “I want them in our wake. Make it obvious to the other ships in the bay that we are under the same command.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  They moved slowly into the channel between towering cliffs. The ships at anchor had taken up stations along either side. Roleena guessed they were just waiting out the coming storm before setting sail again. The cliffs on either side were tall and dark, almost ominous, but Roleena had sailed through the long bay before. She knew that a few miles in the cliffs fell away and the surrounding land opened up. There was a large port called Hamsbury that catered to sailors, although she had no way of knowing if it still existed. The ports along the western coast of Falxis were all abandoned.

  She stood like a statue, taking in the sight of other ships and the way the water whipped in the wind. The helmsman nearby did not speak to his captain. The sailors in the rigging and along the deck spoke to each other in quiet voices. There was danger in the bay, they could feel it. They were sailing into a dragon’s lair, and if they weren’t careful they might never return.

  Hours passed as they made their way inland. The bay stretched deep into the kingdom of Osla, before becoming a deep river that many of the ships could sail up. Roleena had no plans to take either of her ships up the river, but she hoped they might make port where her crew could be distracted while she made her way to the Grand City and retrieved what she could from the remains of the ancient wizards’ tower.

  Hamsbury had once been a bustling port with goods shipped from all over the kingdom to be carried away by the endless flow of sailing ships that waited at anchor in the large bay. As Roleena’s ships sailed close to the remains of the city she felt a twinge of horror at the sight of the vast city now almost completely empty. There were three other ships at anchor and she could see activity around two of the buildings that had been hastily repaired. Whatever horrors Zollin had unleashed on the world, it was obvious that they flew, since nearly every roof she’d seen since leaving Yelsia was smashed inward.

  “Make anchor!” she shouted. “Ready the jolly boat.”

  “You’re going ashore?” Slice asked.

  “We are going ashore. It’s what we came here for—or did you think this was a pleasure cruise?”

  “There’s nothing here but death.”

  “Are you afraid of death, Slice? My dear, you are in the wrong business.”

  Roleena walked past the filthy sailor, her wooden leg thumping on the ship’s deck. She had two guards with her at all times. She didn’t know their names and had no attachments to them, but she fed them well and gave them more privileges than the other crew members. Their only job was to protect her if there was a fight. Not that Roleena couldn’t defend herself, but the guards projected an image of strength that kept the rough-and-tumble sailors in check.

  Roleena, Slice, and the two guards were lowered to the jolly boat which Slice rowed to shore. The long piers were in excellent condition and they tied the boat up to the nearest one and then walked down the long, wooden walkway. There were dark clouds to the west, but the storm hadn’t yet come inland. The city was in ruins and by the looks of things looters had been hard at work, but two buildings near the pier were in passible shape. One was a tall structure that Roleena recognized as an inn. It looked seedy and dark, but there were people, mostly sailors, going in and out of the
building. The second structure was smaller, but just as busy. Roleena guessed it was a tavern. The smell of grease and fried foods was strong as they approached the building. A sign hung above the entrance that said The Thirsty Goose.

  “See that there are plenty of distractions here to keep our crew busy for a week,” Roleena said to Slice. “I want the men coming ashore in two-day rotations.”

  “You may lose a few,” Slice warned.

  “Make sure that we don’t lose anyone of importance. And if you can recruit some sailors with skill, offer them each a gold crown. I’ll see to it that they are paid upon my return.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Slice said.

  They went into the tavern and Slice immediately approached the bar. Roleena stayed just inside the door. She could trust her crew for a week as long as they could drink and whore. That would give her enough time to travel to the Grand City and back. She looked around the crowded tavern. There were groups of men at the tables, some gambling, others drinking and telling stories. Most were in various stages of drunkenness, but a few sat idle, looking grim.

  “Bring me that one,” she pointed to a stout man across the room.

  One of her guards hurried to do her bidding.

  “And that one,” she pointed to a skinny man near the bar.

  The men approached slowly, both looking suspiciously at the beautiful woman near the door.

  “What are your names?” she asked.

  “I’m Powl,” said the stout man.

  “Vernyr,” said the other.

  “I need able-bodied men to take me and my guards upriver. Can you row?”

  “Not for free,” said Vernyr.

  Roleena smiled. She was always amazed at how easily men could be controlled. A little coin was all it took to get most men to do whatever she wanted. As if by magic she produced two silver coins, one in each hand. She held one out to each man.

  “There is another two marks for each of you once we return,” she said in a seductive voice.

  The men took the coins and nodded.

  “We leave immediately,” she ordered. “Gather your things and meet me at the pier.”

  Powl and Vernyr hurried away. She hoped they wouldn’t force her to send her men in search of them, but she wouldn’t hesitate if the two men failed to keep their end of the bargain. She had no qualms about seeing a man die—slowly, if necessary.

  Slice had a goblet of wine in one hand and a large mug of ale in the other as he returned from the bar. He held out the wine to Roleena, who took the goblet but didn’t drink. She sniffed at the dark contents skeptically.

  “Plenty to do here,” Slice said. “There’s still plenty of the city to explore and the inn has wenches.”

  “Good,” Roleena said. “You have your orders then. Divide each crew into three groups. They get two days ashore each. Make sure they return and do not start any fights they cannot finish.”

  “Yes, Captain,” the sailor said with a smirk.

  Roleena knew that Slice would carry out her orders, then spend the week on shore drinking and whoring. She didn’t care. In fact, if he was adequately distracted he wouldn’t have time to cause her trouble. The real danger was from the other pirates in the bay. If they suspected that her ships held goods, they might attack, wipe out her crew, and steal her ships. She didn’t like leaving the bay, but she needed to get to the Grand City, or what was left of it at any rate, and that meant going upriver.

  “How is the drink?” she asked.

  “Good,” Slice said. “Whatever foul magic was unleashed on this place, it didn’t disturb the ale. That wine is two decades old.”

  Roleena sipped at the wine and smiled. It was better than she expected, much better. Osla had treasures that were ripe for the taking if such good quality wine was being served in a filthy seaside tavern. It boded well for her quest and she hoped her own bounty would be much more valuable.

  Chapter 2

  Sneaking through the forest with a dragon and a catatonic princess wasn’t easy, but few things were in Zollin’s life. His wife had left him, and his king had pressured him to forego the search for her and instead carry a message to the neighboring kingdom. And along the way he’d been attacked by gargoyles which were brought to life by a mysterious dark magic that had tried to steal his own power.

  Luck was still on his side in some small way. They had walked through the forest and rugged hills of Baskla, moving south toward the capital without attracting the attention of the ferocious gargoyles. Ferno, the huge green dragon which had nearly been killed by the gargoyles, was healing nicely since Zollin had returned with gold. The precious metal had an amazing effect on the dragon and so they had been able to slink over the rocky, weed-choked ridges and down the precarious ravines that made up much of Baskla. The trees hid them from view most of the time, but stealth wasn’t a gift of the muscular dragon.

  Princess Amvyr did everything she was told. Her body was so emaciated that she didn’t have much stamina, but she didn’t fight or try to escape, not since they’d left the castle ruins. It was as if some small part of her had been left behind. Zollin knew that physically she wasn’t hurt. His magic had probed every inch of her physical body to ensure that she wasn’t injured. Yet something was wrong, he just didn’t know what it was. She barely ate, and only when Zollin insisted. He hadn’t had to feed her by hand yet, but he knew that if something didn’t change soon they would have to resort to it.

  They were traveling several miles each day but Zollin had no way of knowing how close the capital of Baskla was. He’d only been through the kingdom one time and that was on the back of Ferno who was flying. From the air it was easy to see everything, but on the ground they were surrounded by ridges, hills, and ancient trees that were covered in stiff vines. Zollin could never see more than a dozen paces in any direction.

  “You’re going to have to go up tonight,” Zollin said to Ferno.

  The green dragon growled deeply, but the sound wasn’t defiant. In fact Zollin knew the dragon was anxious to get back in the air. Ferno simply wasn’t built for crawling along the ground, yet if they flew it would attract attention. The last thing they needed was to be attacked by the gargoyle army again.

  “Stay low,” Zollin warned. “We need to know where we are. If you’re seen you can dip back down into the trees.”

  Ferno shook its massive head. The green dragon didn’t like sneaking around, but Ferno was an intelligent creature. Even with the dragon’s massive strength and speed, and Zollin’s magical powers, they still hadn’t been able to overcome the gargoyles. Another fight with the strange creatures might be their last.

  “And it would be better if you left the gold behind too,” Zollin said.

  This time Ferno’s growl was angry and made the young wizard step back a few paces. The look in the dragon’s eyes was dangerous.

  “What?” Zollin said. “You know me. I’m not trying to steal it from you.”

  “No,” the dragon said in a deep, guttural voice that was sometimes hard to understand.

  “Fine, but it will reflect the light from the stars. You’ll be easier to see.”

  Ferno growled again, but there was no danger in the huge beast’s action, it simply didn’t like the truth. Zollin knew the dragon’s lust for gold was becoming a problem, but he didn’t know what to do about it. He couldn’t send Ferno away, at least not until they were safely out of Baskla. Whatever evil power had animated the gargoyles was still present. Zollin could feel it, in fact he’d felt it even in the Great Valley, so he knew that no one was safe. He would have to track down the source of the evil eventually, but first he needed to get the princess back to her father and find out what had happened to King Hausey’s emissaries that had never returned from Baskla.

  “Be careful,” Zollin said. “You should stay here until nightfall, then come and find us. The princess and I will keep moving, just in case you’re attacked.”

  Another angry growl, but it wasn’t directed at Zollin. He knew
the dragon wanted to fight the gargoyles, to make them pay for breaking the green dragon’s wing and knocking it out of the sky. Unfortunately Ferno’s desire for revenge would have to wait.

  “Find out as much as you can,” Zollin said, “then come find me. I don’t like the idea of you being on your own.”

  Ferno dipped its massive, green head while Zollin stroked the beast’s nose. They were friends and neither of them liked the idea of being separated, but it was the smart thing to do.

  “Time to move,” Zollin said to Princess Amvyr. “We’ve got another hour before we need to make camp for the night.”

  The girl got slowly to her feet. She was younger than Zollin, with pale skin and pale blonde hair. Zollin had used his magic to make her a pair of shoes and he had repurposed one of his blankets to fashion her a cloak. The gray wool seemed to contrast with her pale skin in a ghostly way.

  She didn’t speak, but she moved next to him, taking his arm for support as they moved on into the forest. It was cold and the dead grass and fallen leaves were brittle under Zollin’s boots, crunching with each step. They slid down into a small ravine and followed the wrinkle in the land until the climb up the other side became less taxing. Night came on quickly in the forest. The trees cast them in gloom once the sun began to set. Zollin found a suitable place to make camp and began gathering firewood.

  It was strange being with someone who never spoke, but Zollin didn’t mind being alone with his thoughts. He wondered where Brianna was and what she was doing. She had wanted to go south in search of the black dragon Bartoom. He wondered if she’d found the ancient beast yet. His heart ached as if he was physically wounded. He regretted the fact that he hadn’t been more responsive to Brianna’s needs. The honest truth was that he hadn’t realized she was unhappy. And when she left, he’d been too proud to follow her. Perhaps if he had, the dwarves in the southern range of the Northern Highlands might have been destroyed, but in truth that was small comfort to him at the moment.