Power Conspiracy Read online

  Power Conspiracy

  (Path of the Ranger, Book 9)

  Pedro Urvi

  Other Series by Pedro Urvi

  THE ILENIAN ENIGMA

  THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN GODS

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  Dedication

  To my good friend Guiller.

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  Contents

  Power Conspiracy

  Pedro Urvi

  Other Series by Pedro Urvi

  Dedication

  Contents

  MAP

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  The end Book 9

  The adventure continues in:

  Acknowledgements

  Author

  Note from the author:

  MAP

  Chapter 1

  “Lasgol! Wake up!”

  Lasgol was deeply asleep, and a hand was shaking his shoulder roughly. He half-opened his eyes with difficulty, trying to wake up. He could make out a figure in front of him which was trying to shake him out of his dreams.

  “Come on! Wake up!” the voice said. Whoever it was went on shaking him, more forcefully now.

  An intense sense of danger rose from his chest to his throat. He propped himself up on his cot, alarmed, and looked around in the gloom. He could make out that he was still in the room he had been assigned to in the Tower of the Rangers, in the Royal Castle. Why was he being woken up in the middle of the night? He could not be in any danger here. Or could he? He focused on the figure, which was shaking him, and finally recognized his face amid the darkness.

  “Viggo! What the heck are you doing?” he protested, trying at the same time to clear his mind, which was still drowsy.

  “Keep your voice down and get dressed. Quickly!”

  “But … what…? Why…?”

  Viggo put his finger to his lips. Lasgol shut his mouth and looked beside his bed to make sure his two friends were there. Ona and Camu were staring at Viggo with the same look of surprise.

  “Trouble,” Viggo whispered.

  “Here? How?”

  “Get dressed, and make it quick.”

  Lasgol got to his feet and followed Viggo’s orders. Only the two of them, together with Ona and Camu, were in the room, and everything looked as usual. As he could not see well enough in the darkness, and to make sure he was not missing anything, he used his Animal Presence skill. A green flash ran through his body and then spread throughout the room. Nothing. They were in a separate, secondary, room on the first floor of the tower. Nilsa had secured it for them so that they could be at ease with the two little fiends. They did not want any Ranger to come across them accidentally, particularly Camu, because they would have too much to explain. Lasgol could not sense any danger, which reassured him, but at the same time he was surprised by the way his friend was behaving. He wondered whether this might be one of his jokes, but he dismissed the idea. Viggo joked about practically everything, but never about danger. He was very careful about that.

  “Is it day yet?” Lasgol asked. The room had no windows and was in darkness.

  Viggo shook his head. He was looking toward the door. Judging by how sleepy he was and how little he thought he had slept, Lasgol guessed that it was still long before sunrise.

  What happen? Camu asked. He sounded surprised.

  No idea. As soon as I find out I’ll tell you.

  Ona moaned uneasily.

  I’m as surprised as you are, I can tell you.

  “Ready?” Viggo asked.

  “I would be if you told me what’s going on.”

  “You’ll see soon enough, and I don’t think it’s going to be anything welcome,” Viggo said mysteriously.

  “What do you mean, it’s not going to be anything welcome?”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of, but it’s only a guess.”

  Lasgol threw his head back. “Only a guess? Of what?”

  “Follow me and we’ll find out. Get a move on.”

  Lasgol stood still. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”

  “If you want to rescue your beloved Astrid, you’d better follow me in silence. Now.”

  Viggo’s voice had sounded serious. He was not joking. Lasgol gave in reluctantly and groped for his weapons in the trunk beside his bed.

  Bad business, Camu transmitted.

  Yeah, it doesn’t sound too good to me either.

  Viggo not joking.

  Yeah, and that’s what’s worrying me.

  Lasgol was surprised by Camu’s intuition. He was beginning to understand more and more, not only language, but also people’s expressions and intentions, especially those of the companions he spent most time with. The creature was growing up.

  Viggo opened the door without a sound, and a little light came into the room from the corridor, which was lit by a couple of torches at each end. Lasgol saw that Viggo was armed, which worried him. Was he anticipating serious trouble in the middle of the night? In the castle?

  I don’t know what’s going on, so just in case, camouflage yourself, Camu, he transmitted to his friend, who obeyed at once.

  Once in the corridor, they went on to the tower entrance. They found the great door ajar, with nobody keeping watch beside it. There were always two Rangers on guard duty there. Where were they? Lasgol was about to say something, but Viggo cut him off with a finger to his lips and beckoned him on in silence. Outside the tower, everything was quiet in the darkness. Viggo closed the door the moment they had gone out.

  “Where’s the Ranger on duty?” Lasgol whispered.

  “He’s indisposed.”

  Lasgol threw his head back in disbelief. “What have you done to him?”

  Viggo shrugged and looked resigned. “Follow me. I don’t want to miss what’s about to happen.”

  “What’s about to happen?” Lasgol demanded, in an agony of frustration at this secretiveness.

  “You’ll see in a mo
ment,” Viggo said, and set off at a crouch amid the shadows.

  All Lasgol could do was follow. He did not understand why they were hiding. They were in the Royal Castle, and they had every right to be there. The guard would not be surprised to see them in the courtyard or near the Tower of the Rangers. At the other end of the courtyard he could see the soldiers’ barracks and the tower of the Magi further behind, beyond the main building of the castle. This was where the King and the court were resting. They could see soldiers on watch duty both below and above the wall which surrounded the castle. There was no need to hide from them. What was Viggo up to?

  “Always getting into trouble,” Lasgol muttered.

  “That’s me,” Viggo replied and kept going.

  Viggo always fun, Camu said from beside him.

  Lasgol was liking the situation less and less. This isn’t fun. The messes Viggo gets into aren’t fun.

  When they reached the royal stables, Viggo hid behind a row of barrels. They were at the back of a long wooden structure which housed more than a hundred of the best Norghanian horses and ponies. These were for the use of the nobles of the Court, officers, Magi and some of the Rangers. The Norghanian soldiers were mostly infantry, so that only the royal messengers kept their mounts here. There were two other large stables in the city where the light cavalry kept their horses. The Norghanians considered that a soldier ought to fight and travel on foot across mountains and valleys. There was no tradition of cavalry in the realm, which was why the stables were always small.

  Viggo indicated the upper level of the stable. “We’re going up.”

  “Why?” Lasgol asked. As they approached the stables, he had caught sight of several people inside, getting their mounts ready to depart.

  Viggo winked. “It’s a surprise.” He began to climb up the wooden wall.

  “I’m going to hang you,” Lasgol protested bitterly under his breath.

  Viggo climbed up the structure with amazing ease and began to make his way along the roof, crawling like a snake in complete silence.

  Ona, stay here, Lasgol said to the panther, who gave a soft moan of complaint.

  As he started climbing, he heard something beside him on the wall. It was Camu, who, with his adhesive pads, was able to climb and hang suspended from almost any surface without trouble. Viggo was waiting for them, and when they reached him, Lasgol saw a dozen or so soldiers in a double column coming from the barracks. It was a troop of the Royal Guard on night duty. He swallowed. If they were found up there, things would probably turn very unpleasant. They would not understand what they were doing there, any more than he did himself. Luckily the patrol passed by without seeing them and went on toward the castle door.

  “What are we doing up here anyway?” he asked crossly.

  Viggo gestured to him to lay low and keep to the shadows, then pointed to the two towers by the portcullis. Lasgol could see the guards in the towers, but luckily they were looking outwards.

  “Listen,” Viggo said. “I think we’ve come at just the right moment.” He let himself hang down headfirst a little over the edge so that he could see what was going on inside the stable through a large round window high up in the building.

  Lasgol snorted impatiently. Seeing that he was not going to get any answers, he did the same.

  Six mounted riders were waiting. There was no doubt that they were soldiers of the Royal Guard, because they were as big as Wild Ones of the Ice. With them was Duke Orten, the King’s brother, together with one of the Ice Magi. At once Lasgol began to take an interest in that strange nocturnal meeting. He sensed something ominous.

  See Trotter, came Camu’s message. He must be at his side, spying just as he and Viggo were.

  Yes, they let me keep him here because I’m a Ranger. And they look after him very well.

  Trotter fun.

  Camu, concentrate. Something’s going on, and I think it’s something bad.

  I concentrate.

  Lasgol was not very sure Camu understood the idea of concentrating, but since he himself wanted to know what was going on, he said nothing and listened.

  “Are you sure this is what I’m looking for, Maldreck?” Orten asked the Ice Mage.

  “I am, my lord. This is it.” He showed him something wrapped in a white cloth with silver edges.

  “Show it to me,” Orten demanded, almost in a bark.

  Maldreck uncovered the object, and Lasgol had to muffle a cry of surprise. It was the Star of Sea and Life! What was this Ice Mage doing? He was about to say something, but Viggo’s hand covered his mouth, and at the same time he shook his head. They were both hanging head-downwards with half their bodies off the roof which was not an ideal position for making unusual movements. A moment later Viggo took his hand away and they went on observing the scene.

  “Yes, it looks like a large sea star but, are you sure it’s the Object of Power?”

  “It is, my lord. This is the Object that Eicewald brought from the Turquoise Realm.”

  “Show me. I want to see that what you’re saying is really true.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  The Mage placed his hand on the Star and closed his eyes in concentration. He intoned several words of Power and activated it, and the Object of Power began to glow with an intense blue radiance.

  Orten watched it from close at hand. His face took on a look of distaste.

  “Right. I can see it’s magical, and it seems to have power. I’m convinced. Now put it out. I don’t like magic close at hand.”

  The Mage did as was told. “I brought it as you ordered,” he said in a voice of abject servility.

  “You’d better have. Those who fail to do my bidding tend to fall victim to accidents …”

  The Ice Mage swallowed. “My person is always at the service of my lord,” he said and bent double in a bow.

  “I hope you mean my service, and not Eicewald’s. We’re both your superiors, and both of us hold higher positions than you do.”

  The mage gave another deep bow. “Yours, of course, my lord Duke. The King’s brother is the second most important man in the realm. Your will outranks that of my lord Eicewald.”

  “That’s the way I like it, the fact that you’re clear-headed about it. There are those who confuse their loyalties. And that tends to be very dangerous.”

  “I know my place very well, and my loyalties are clear.”

  “That pleases me,” Orten said. His smile was deeply ironic.

  “My lord …. Eicewald …” Maldreck stammered.

  “What’s the matter with Eicewald?”

  “He won’t accept the ‘loss’ of the Star. That’s going to be a problem.”

  Orten shook his head. “It won’t be an important one.”

  “He’ll be angry … the object means a lot to him … he’ll want an explanation.”

  Orten gave a deep, disdainful laugh, as if the concerns of the King’s Mage were completely inconsequential. “He’s lucky to keep his neck. If he thinks I’m going to let him keep a weapon as valuable as that, after seeing what it did to the Frozen Specter, he’s very much mistaken. I’m going to take charge of it myself.”

  “He’ll complain to the King …”

  “I’ll deal with my brother. He won’t oppose it. He doesn’t want this Object of Power in the hands of someone who’s not in our confidence, any more than I do.”

  “Eicewald is the King’s Mage …”

  “So he is, but he didn’t show it when it was most needed. He’s lost both my trust and my brother’s. On the other hand, you, Maldreck, are progressing, and you could reach the highest level among the Ice Magi. The Post of King’s Mage isn’t for life, as you well know, and the King may dispossess whoever holds the title at any moment if he deems it appropriate. By helping me in this business, you’re positioning yourself to be his successor when the time is ripe. I could suggest your name to my brother … support your candidacy … whisper in his ear who the best candidate is for the post.”
<
br />   “You honor me, my lord … the position of King’s Mage is the greatest honor … I wouldn’t dare to dream of attaining a position like that.”

  “Yes, yes, of course. So are you telling me you’re not interested in the position? Because there are many other perfectly capable Ice Magi.”

  “I’m sure my fellow-Magi are very capable, but I want the best for the Crown and the Royal Family. My wish is to serve Norghana and help carry her to a new era of glory.”

  “That’s very commendable. My brother and I appreciate your support.”

  The mage gave a slight bow. “That’s why it’s a great honor for me to be able to help you and carry out your orders.”

  “Remember, anyone who fails to carry out my orders tends to come to a bad end.”

  Maldreck nodded. “I’ll do my Lord’s will.”

  Orten gave him a hard stare. “Never forget that, or else your time on this earth will be a very short one.”

  Lasgol could not believe his eyes and ears. This Ice Mage, who owed his loyalty to Eicewald as the King’s Mage, was betraying him in exchange for the Duke’s favor, so that he could rise to the position Eicewald now held. He felt a great rage rising from his chest to his throat, as if it were acid.

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “Good. I’m pleased about that. Eicewald won’t be a problem. “There’s no need for you to worry.”

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  Orten’s comment troubled Lasgol. Would Orten dare to kill Eicewald? That would surely be going too far. And yet he wondered about it. Orten was an unscrupulous brute who might very well be plotting to kill the Mage. He would have to warn Eicewald. He could not allow this treachery. Eicewald had behaved well during the mission to the Turquoise Queen and had fought with everything he had to return successfully with the Star. In addition, he had destroyed the Frozen Specter. He was a Norghanian hero, and he did not deserve to be betrayed like this.

  “Now listen to my instructions carefully.” Orten jabbed his finger at Maldreck. “You’re going to take this Object of Power to my fortress. I want the Star secured in my redoubt, the fortress of Skol. Do you know it? It’s in the extreme southwest of the kingdom, on the border.”