The Hunter's Gambit

by Nicholas McIntire

  Vadim nodded slowly, trying to absorb everything he was hearing.

  “Is there anything you need?” Vadim asked finally.

  Aleksei shook his head, “Only for you to hold things here as you have. Watch for the revenants, but I don’t expect more to appear any time soon. I think we dealt our enemies a bigger blow than we realized. For the moment try to maintain the fiction that Drava is deserted, until reinforcements arrive.”

  “Will you return with them?” Vadim asked hopefully.

  “I can’t say right now.” Aleksei said gravely. “You will be in charge of the men. I want the woodcutters to return to work as soon as they can. Have the Legionnaires provide guard detail for the woodsmen, and for the shipments. We can’t let the lumberyards in Bereg Morya dry up.”

  Vadim blinked in surprise at that. It was possibly the last thing he’d expected the Lord Captain to say.

  “Can you do that?” Aleksei asked, snapping Vadim back into the moment.

  The Knight nodded, “As you command, Lord Captain.”

  Aleksei smiled and shook Vadim’s hand firmly, “Thank you. May the gods be with you.”

  “And you, Sir.”

  Aleksei waved his farewell to Hade, then hurried out the door and around the side of the inn to the stable. The doors were shut and tightly nailed, but Aleksei had little difficulty pulling the boards away.

  Dash was inside, prancing with the excitement of seeing Aleksei again.

  “Hey there, boy,” Aleksei said with a warm smile, “sorry to leave you like that. Something…unexpected came up. What do you say we go for a ride?”

  The horse quivered in excitement as Aleksei brushed him down and strapped on his tack. He slid onto the horse’s back, then turned Dash on the road west, toward Mornj. And answers.

  Tamara sat in her chambers, one hand cradling her head as she stared listlessly out the window onto the Palace Lawn. Life was such a bore in the Palace without Jonas to lunch with, or Lord Captain Drago to watch at sword practice.

  She hated it when her cousin had to leave on business, mostly because she was certain he was off having grand adventures and doing dangerous, daring things while she sat at home in the Palace and listened to her tutors bore her with economics and history.

  Why it mattered that the Yrini warlocks had assaulted Fanj fifty years ago over some prince’s thoughtless remark, some prince who had undoubtedly been dead for years, was beyond her. How was that going to aid Tamara in ruling the realm when the time came?

  Anyone with common sense knew it was a bad idea to insult an Yrini warlock. Anyone who didn’t realize such an obvious truth deserved whatever they got.

  There was a sudden flutter of color outside the window. A tiny sparrow lighted on her windowsill and Tamara smiled. It hopped about, pecking at invisible crumbs and looking inside in the most curious manner. After a moment, it tapped tentatively on the glass. A moment later, it tapped firmly.

  Tamara frowned, startled by the bird’s peculiar actions. She’d never seen a bird behave like that. She went to the window and opened one side of it, stepping back in wonder as the bird flitted into her room and perched at the top of the chair she’d occupied not a moment before.

  “How delightful!” she laughed to herself, clapping her hands.

  The bird began to sing, and for a moment Tamara was perplexed. It was the same song her nursemaid had sung to her so often as a child! But the only other person who would ever have heard that tune was….

  “Jonas!” she laughed. “Jonas, darling, you’ve returned!”

  The bird shivered and then elongated, filling the chair until it was her cousin sitting before her, his handsome smile stretched wide.

  Tamara flung herself into his arms, kissing his cheeks and hugging him fiercely. “I can hardly believe it!” she said, “I was just thinking to myself how much a bore life is here, without your wit to make it bearable.”

  Jonas chuckled and hugged his cousin tightly, “I wish I could say the great wide world was much better, but it also becomes boring in its own way after a while.”

  She struck him playfully on the arm, “You’re joking, surely!”

  The Prince winced at the strike, “Oh, would that I was, Cousin. Believe me. I’ve not had an easy time of it these last few days.”

  She frowned, “How so?”

  Quickly Jonas related some of the less gruesome details of his absence. By the end of his story her face was wide with shock, “But how is this possible? I understand that the Archanium is vast and mysterious, but for such things to occur! And to you of all people!”

  “Indeed,” Jonas muttered, “so do not envy me too deeply, Cousin. I doubt you’d appreciate the quality of adventure if you’d taken a crossbow bolt.”

  “I almost did.” she reminded him archly. “Perhaps you shouldn’t travel in such a vain manner. Mother would have you strung up by your thumbs and never hear of you leaving again if she knew.”

  Jonas' face darkened, “Which is why we can’t tell her.”

  “If she had her way, you’d never leave the Palace again, much less on such a rash errand. And in such a form!”

  Jonas arched an eyebrow. “Yet she is content for Aleksei to risk his life, even though in so doing he risks mine as well? Surely she hasn’t thought this through.”

  “Well, she has had a great deal on her mind of late.”

  “Really? What do you mean?”

  The princess glanced at the door warily, but Jonas waved his hand casually. “It’s warded.”

  She nodded, “It’s Parliament. They’ve been breathing down her neck in the most ferocious manner over the incident in Relvyn. They’re questioning her wisdom in sending such a small force and then criticizing her for sending Magi down there when they are not officially part of the military. They bicker about the way things ought to be run and say Grandfather would never have allowed such attacks to continue for so long.

  “Worse, now the Legion generals are siding with Parliament. They’ve brought up several accounts of military folly that they claim are her fault. It’s been vicious, Jonas. It truly has.”

  Jonas sighed, “I wish I was surprised by any of this. Anyone we ought to be particularly concerned with?”

  Tamara arched an eyebrow, “Who would you guess? It’s always the same ones, isn’t it? Perron and Malak are the worst, of course. I swear sometimes I can see Malak foaming at the mouth. He’s turning into quite the ideologue.”

  “I don’t know that I’d be too worried were I you. Your mother is a brilliant woman and a very capable ruler. She will deal with Parliament as only she can, and that will be that.”

  Tamara’s face darkened, “Do you really think so? I’m afraid I can’t share in your confidence. Remember, Cousin, I’ve been in Kalinor while you’ve been out fluttering hither and thither. There have been a great many changes that I believe you might not have been privy to.”

  The Magus sighed, “Well that doesn’t sound encouraging, especially coming from you.”

  Tamara frowned, “I’m not sure where I earned this reputation of being foolish and empty-headed, Cousin, but whatever truth may surround such rumors I am certainly not blind.”

  Jonas smiled, “No one is accusing you of anything, Tamara. It’s just that you have a habit of believing the best of people, even when such an opinion doesn’t seem merited. So when you are troubled by such things, it speaks to me of a greater severity.”

  Tamara’s face lightened a touch, “Well, I am not the cynic you are. Though I hardly find fault in that.”

  There was a knock at the door and Jonas quickly dissolved the ward.

  “Enter.” Tamara called.

  The door swung open to reveal a petite maid, “Your Highness…es,” she said, her large brown eyes widening in surprise and horror as she realized Jonas was in the room, “I present Her Majesty, the Queen.”

  Andariana swept into the room, her sapphire silk gown whispering across the polis
hed marble floor. She nodded a dismissal to the maid, who made a deep curtsy and rushed from the room, closing the door as she left.

  Andariana’s surprise upon catching sight of Jonas was quickly swallowed back into her mask of regal forbearance.

  “What news of the front, Nephew?”

  Jonas smiled slightly. At least she didn’t ask where he’d been.

  “Last I knew, the revenants had been greatly depleted in number. In fact, we might have set their plans temporarily awry.”

  “‘We’, Jonas?”

  “Aleksei and myself.” He paused, throwing another ward of silence around the room.

  She sighed, “I might have guessed as much. I’d feared him off on some other mission. His warhorse was left in the Palace stables, so I assumed it was a mission of a personal nature.”

  Jonas shook his head, “Aleksei’s the reason the numbers of revenants are so greatly reduced. He’s also the reason there might not be any more for some time.”

  She arched an eyebrow, “Really? Why is that?”

  “Because he killed a Magus named Stephen, who I believe was the one responsible for summoning the creatures.”

  Andariana took this in stride, nodding slowly, “And where did you encounter this Magus?”

  “In the Relvyn Wood, shortly after they attacked me.”

  Andariana’s eyes widened, “I see.” She was still unaware of Jonas' ability to shift into other forms, and he meant to keep it that way. Undoubtedly, the thought of him flying would terrify her. Such fears would seem all the more justified now. “And yet you appear no worse for it.”

  “Aleksei took me to the Ri-Vhan. Their Healers tended to me.” Jonas said matter-of-factly.

  The Queen sighed, “Very well. I am willing to accept all of this, Jonas, but would you kindly explain to me how it is that you and your Knight are capable of such movement through the realm? Last I was aware, the Seil Wood was in no way close to Relvyn.”

  Jonas considered for a moment, trying to decide how much he should tell his aunt. After all, the less she actually knew, the less she could let slip to someone who might not be trustworthy, and at the moment that list was ever-growing.

  “I’m not sure I understand it all myself. I believe it has something to do with Aleksei’s talents as a Ri-Vhan Hunter. The Wood seems to be able to usher him between the Seil and the Relvyn Woods.”

  Andariana’s eyes widened with surprise, “The…Wood does this? You speak as though the Wood was a being.”

  Jonas considered how to respond to that for a moment, “She is, Aunt. The Wood is an ancient being of incredible magic. She predates even the Kholodym, and therefore it is impossible to say exactly how old She is. However, She is most certainly a creature in Her own regard. One capable of thought and speech, after a fashion.”

  The Queen shook her head in wonder, “I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I have difficulty fathoming such a thing.”

  Jonas spread his hands before himself in a conciliatory gesture, “Then take my words at face value and understand that I speak of matters related to powerful magic that is beyond my own comprehension.”

  Andariana collapsed unceremoniously into an armchair and sighed, “Very well, Nephew. Forgive the interrogation. I’m afraid I’ve spent all my time of late discussing logistics with politicians. You’ll understand if I am unused to dealing with people’s words at face value.”

  Jonas chuckled, “Of course, Aunt.” He paused there, considering how best to bring up the next item he needed to bring to her attention. “Now, before I was wounded, I was returning from a rather unsettling encounter in the Relvyn Mountains. There are ruins of an ancient structure there called the Drakleyn. It dates back to the time of the Kholodym. It is at present, I believe, being used as a base of operations.”

  Andariana sat straighter, “For what?”

  Jonas sighed, “I’m not precisely sure. There was a Magus there called Bael, who I didn’t recognize. He was deeply steeped in the Nagavor. The other man I encountered was Emelian Krasik.”

  Andariana leapt from her seat as though it were on fire. Her eyes were wide and suddenly fearful. “Krasik? Are you sure?”

  Jonas nodded, “Quite sure. But it doesn’t stop here. Bael called Krasik the ‘Zra-Uul’. Do you know that name?”

  Andariana considered a long moment, “I recall the name being mentioned several times during the last war.” She paused, and Jonas could tell she was choosing her words very carefully. “I was barely twenty at the time, so you must understand that I was quite sheltered then. Whenever I heard it uttered, there was the understanding that it meant something terrible, but my sister never told me what. Why?”

  Jonas frowned, “Because I think I’ve seen it referenced before, in one of the books in the Voralla. I was going to go down to the Vaults later today and search for it, but I was hoping it would sound familiar to you.”

  The Queen sighed, “Could it simply be some sort of honorary? The Krasik line is rife with…interesting ancestry, some very questionable.”

  “I hoped the same thing, but I regret to tell you that it appears to be something more. As I said, I don’t really grasp the nature of how it works, but whatever it was, it dropped Bael to the ground in a heartbeat. And the Magus was obviously wary enough not to retaliate.”

  The Queen watched her nephew closely. “Jonas, what are you not telling me?”

  The Magus cursed silently. Gods, how did she always know? “Did you read the book I gave to Aya?”

  Andariana nodded cautiously, “I found it a bit confusing, but yes. Why?”

  “I believe Bael is seeking to open the Cathedral of Dazhbog.”

  Andariana’s hand went to her mouth, “You not serious! Is there any chance of his success?”

  “Yes. He’s already entered the Second Transept. It’s possible he has the Prime Key already.”

  Andariana nodded, retreating behind her iron façade. “Very well. We will get this sorted out. All of it.”

  Jonas doubted his own ability to deal with Bael, much less that of Sammul’s useless Magi. Combine that with whatever abilities Krasik might possess, and Jonas thought there was a good deal more to fear than Andariana was willing to admit.

  He glanced over at Tamara and winced at the combination of anger and horror that battled for command of her face, “But what of Lord Captain Drago? Why didn’t he return with you?”

  Jonas' expression soured, “Aleksei has gone to Mornj. He sent several requests for reinforcements while in Drava but received no response. He believes there is something or someone in Mornj who is countermanding his orders. He’s…investigating.”

  Andariana frowned, “Why didn’t he simply have me write to them?”

  Jonas shrugged, “You know how Aleksei is. He is much more satisfied if he deals with something like this in person. He’s never been one to rely on letters and words above actions.”

  She nodded, “I just hope he’s careful. Mornj can be a rather…rough place. That’s one of the reasons we built a garrison there.”

  Jonas smiled, “I have a feeling that he’ll do rather well for himself, then.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Debt Collection

  ALEKSEI SAT ASTRIDE Dash, irritably watching the cart before him. It had been half an hour since they had been stopped at the gates of the city, and the guards were still quibbling with the driver over some document or another.

  Every now and then he considered revealing who he was simply so that he might get into the city faster, but he knew that announcing his presence would only make his job harder. He needed information, and in his experience, it was best gathered when the target was caught off guard. When he made his presence known, he wanted it to be as much a surprise as possible.

  The cart was finally waved through and Aleksei urged Dash forward. He kept his own face hidden in the hood of his cloak. The light rain gave him ready excuse to keep his face obscured.

  “State your bu
siness.” the guard said in a bored voice.

  “Collecting on a debt.” Aleksei said gruffly.

  The guard glanced behind him at the gatehouse where his friends were visibly drinking ale and throwing dice. The man snorted. “Good luck with that. Off you go.”

  Aleksei nodded his thanks and rode through the massive gates into the city of Mornj.

  Dash navigated the crowded streets with a comfort that struck Aleksei as deeply amusing. He couldn’t help but recall his first visit to Kalinor.

  Aleksei remembered how wide-eyed he’d been in the city. Gods, but that seemed a lifetime ago.

  Now he moved through the flow of people and carts, one hand always floating near his knife. Cities were not kind to the unwary, as Aleksei had learned the hard way. Still, that encounter had not gone the way the thief intended.

  Aleksei turned down High Street and searched the brightly painted hanging signs. After wading through a sea of hawkers and tradesmen, he finally spotted an inn and steadily made his way steadily towards it.

  The sign was of a woman holding a tray. The words below identified it as The Silver Tankard. Aleksei slid off of Dash’s back and led him around to the small stable behind the structure.

  A stable boy came forward and opened his hands for the reins. Aleksei handed them over, along with a silver mark. “Take good care of him and there’ll be another one for you when I come back.”

  The boy’s eyes widened and he nodded dumbly as Aleksei walked into the inn. The innkeeper, a large woman bearing a vague resemblance to the woman on the sign, was wiping the bar with a greasy rag when he walked up.

  “How much for a night?” he asked in a low tone.

  She looked him up and down, then leaned forward, “Silver mark. That’s with dinner and a pint.”

  Aleksei slid across ten coppers, “Just the room, then.”

  She eyed the coppers, then nodded, “As you like. Fifth door on the right upstairs.”

  Aleksei thanked her and went to his room, throwing his pack on the bed and pulling off his travel clothes. If he was going to throw his weight around at the garrison, he’d better look the part. He dressed quickly, hiding his uniform beneath his cloak and pulling his hood up the moment he stepped out of the inn.