The Legend of Black Eyes 221 Raiya's Secret Plan

"Mr. Osgar Murkwaters," Stalwart said as soon as Adwer ushered the man inside. "I'm glad to finally make your acquaintance. Please, have a seat." Stalwart looked at Adwer, who had brought the ghost captain in. "Bring the man some food, and the best wine Hartwell has to offer."

Osgar looked nonplussed. He dragged his feet toward the nearest chair and sat on it. Stalwart, still standing, advanced toward his new guest. He eyed him from head to toe, made sure Osgar felt uncomfortable enough before he spoke.

"I have to apologize on behalf of my grandson," Stalwart said. "I gave specific instructions that he sees to your well-being. I was disheartened to hear of your imprisonment down in the dungeons."

Osgar forced a smile. He couldn't meet the man's eyes though. He still couldn't trust in this sudden change of heart his captors had. "I don't mean to sound rude, kind sir," Osgar said with a shaky voice. "You know me by name, yet I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of meeting you before."

Stalwart chuckled lightly. "Pardon me, recent events made me forget my manners," he said. "I am Theolonius Stalwart. You may know me as the mad wizard."

Osgar gulped loudly. His heart started thumping against his ears. He knew that his captor was working under Stalwart's orders, but he never thought he'd meet the mad wizard in person.

"I'm sure you have hundreds, maybe thousands of questions you'd like to ask me now," Stalwart went on. "I'd like you to delay them a little longer. You'll soon have food to warm your empty stomach. I've been told that you have a special weakness for women. I made sure that the best whores of Biarkh will warm your bed every night from now until the day we have to leave to Milogac."

"M-m-milogac?" Osgar echoed.

"I'd like you to take us there," Stalwart said in a tone that suggested this wasn't a request. "In exchange, your stay in this fort will be made much, much more comfortable."

"I can't sail there without my helm," Osgar said. "It's been stolen from me."

"From Bodrick's little girl, I know," Stalwart said. "You should not worry about that, however, we'll get the helm for you in no time."

"Your Lordship," Osgar began but he was immediately interrupted by Stalwart's laughter. The old man laughed until tears ran trickled down his eyes then disappeared in his white beard.

"No one's called me that in decades," he said, still laughing. "Tell me, Osgar Murkwaters, what do you desire most in this world?"

***

In the meantime, Elsa had gathered twenty strong men to go and rescue Zedd from the posse that was after him. She decided to join the party too. She was wearing ringmail beneath a black hooded cloak. She was riding in the lead, with Beatrix beside her. Lady Bodrick insisted on accompanying her.

"Remember, we use the dark to our advantage," Elsa barked at the men she chose to join her. "Our purpose is not to fight, but to create a diversion for Lady Bodrick to snatch our target. We leave as soon as we get her signal."

The others nodded. Elsa was about to order her men to move out when an old man rushed out of the mansion. He was her most trusted advisor, and the man who took care of her after her father's passing.

"My lady," he said as he got close. "Lady Fischer's on her way here. You'd better consult with her before leaving."

"Make sure you move the old man to a secure location," Elsa told the old man. "We don't know what happened with Zedd and the witch."

"He's being moved as we speak," the old man said. "Take care my lady, and watch your back."  

"I've got my own witch keeping me company," Elsa said, casting a glance at a cloaked woman behind her. "This is a rescue mission, not a war. We'll be back before you know it."

"Then I pray for your success," the old man said.

"Prayer is for the weak," Elsa said, "or have you forgotten your own lessons old man?"

"Old habits die hard my lady," the old man said. "Shall we await your arrival here?"

"No," Elsa replied. "Meet us in the hideout. Take only a handful of people with you. Make sure Lady Fischer is with you."

"Yes, my lady," the old man said.

"Whatever happens, don't let Lord Bodrick out of your sight," Elsa barked one last order before leaving.

She gave the order for her men to move out. They rode toward the woods where Zedd was last seen. She had her men stationed near the city for such cases. When some custodians, those who ran away from Zedd, got close to the city, her men intercepted them. Word got to her first, and she knew she had but little time to react.

They met Hilda on their way out. Lady Fischer warned Elsa that something bad was about to happen, but these were most of Hilda's predictions. She told her to follow her men's directives, and to stay away from sight. This time, Elsa had a bad feeling; the kind of intuition only women possessed; the kind of intuition that always turns out to be true.

The baroness of Milkweed was taught to never leave anything to chance. She knew she should have left Zedd to fend for himself, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. No matter how much she rationalized things, she realized that the one eyed man had won a place in her heart. She couldn't explain it, but it happened; sudden and unexpected as most people always told her it would be.

She rode on, with twenty people behind her. She felt the sharp wind slice through her cheeks like ice razors. It was getting colder, earlier than anyone expected. It was difficult for the horses and riders alike to see the road though. Thick clouds had formed above their heads, announcing an imminent storm.

"It's too dark to see where we're going," Beatrix screamed beside Elsa.

"Then hope your horse has better sight than you," Elsa snapped.

"It's not about me," Beatrix retorted. "Your men will find it difficult to navigate the road, especially when we get close to the woods. I can see just fine in the dark."

"My men know their orders," Elsa shot at Beatrix. "You make sure you get him out of there, you hear?"

"I still think this is a bad idea, Lady Vogel," Beatrix said.

"Why did you come?" Elsa snapped at her. "We don't have time to waste on second guessing. You're either with us or against us, choose, and choose now."

"Zedd's helped us get my father from his hiding place," Beatrix said. "So did Raiya. We couldn't have done it without her."

"You do what you have to do," Elsa said. "But if you put him in harm's way just to save that witch…"

"I know. I know, alright?" Beatrix interrupted. "It's just that…"

"Eyes forward, don't speak too much or you'll bite your tongue," Elsa interrupted. She kicked her horse and urged it to ride faster. The other riders followed suit, and the conversation with Beatrix was brought to a short stop.

***

Back in the clearing where Zedd fought the custodians, Raiya woke up in the cave. The number of men screaming outside had greatly subsided. She extended her senses outward, and found Zedd's energy signature. He'd closed himself off from psionic conversations. More men surrounded him, about twenty of them. They seemed to have difficulty reaching him, or perhaps it was fear. She couldn't tell.

'You know you can't put this off much longer, do you?' a voice inside her whispered. 'You need him, now more than ever.'

'I know what I have to do,' Raiya replied. 'Stop your incessant nagging.'

'If it weren't for me, you would never have found him,' the voice said. 'Or have you had a change of heart ever since you met him? He's grown stronger, that one.'

'I don't like your mind games empress," Raiya said. 'Don't forget that I own you now.'

'You own most of me,' the empress replied. 'Part of me still resides in that brat. You know you can't summon the moon with an incomplete offering. I gave myself to you for a reason, Raiya O'Cheran.'

'We'll have the fragment,' Raiya said. 'We need him to be weak, that's why I needed him with me against Abrath. I don't know how he escaped that beast's clutches though. It's not even the same one that saved his mother's life.'

'His lucky stars have been watching over him,' Eva said. 'But you know what they say about luck. It runs out on you during the worst times.'

'Have you spoken to your fragment?' Raiya asked.

'Yes,' Eva replied. 'She's been expecting my return. She even convinced the kid into leaving her consciousness intact, the fool.'

'Good,' Raiya said. 'He'll come to check on me as soon as he's done with the men outside. I need you to be ready when that happens.'

'I've been ready since we met him at the port,' Eva said. 'You just wouldn't allow it.'

Raiya, still struggling with her own breathing, let out a faint laughter. 'You may have been an empress long ago,' she said. 'But you know nothing of deception. You left it to your master of spies, remember? The man who let the Church in. The man who ruined your life.'

'You will fulfill your promise to me, won't you?' Eva asked.

'We've both been wronged by evil men,' Raiya said. 'The difference is in the degree of evil. I will never forget what you've done for me. The holus shall be mine. You will have a body once more. You will rule this world, and bring the era of the Church of Dhobor to an end.'

'And you shall take Dhobor's place, as a benevolent but firm goddess,' Eva said.

Chapter end