SoJourner

by Voigt, Janalyn

  Mara had heard the term before, always spoken of with awe. “What is it?”

  “I’m not entirely sure, but none can stand against its fury. Even water does not extinguish its flame. It seems an uncanny thing, begotten in darkness.”

  “That may not be far from the mark.” Only the soul of evil could devise such a weapon.

  The catapault in the outer bailey propelled a flaming ball across the wall. Shrieking rose from outside the stronghold.

  Mara pulled in a breath. “We have it, too.” The thought did little to comfort her. Even an enemy should not suffer so horrible a death.

  A whistling sounded and grew to deafeaning. Light and heat flared through the shutters. Glass shattered. The floor vibrated beneath their feet.

  “May Lof Yuel save us!” Traelein cried.

  31

  COURAGE AND COWARDICE

  Elcon shut the door as servants rushed down the corridor. Some carried buckets of water toward the blaze, while others ran away from it, screaming. He caught Arillia close. “Your chambers are on fire.”

  “Oh, no!” Arillia gripped his tunic. “I hope my maid has escaped.”

  “It’s not likely, I’m afraid.”

  “Poor Lyneth.”

  “You would have perished with her, had you not come to my bed last night.” He kissed her forehead. “Go with Anders and hide in the allerstaed. I’ll send Kai to watch over you.”

  “Let me better clothe myself.”

  Garbed in a simple tunic, her hair tangling down her back and color staining her cheeks, she had never looked more beautiful. “Your clothing is gone, Arillia, and there’s no time to find replacements. Put on your slippers. They will have to do. I’ll ask Syl Marinda to bring a cloak to cover you.”

  She gazed at him with sorrowful eyes. “You’re sending me away.”

  “I must. I let my fears keep you and Mara with me longer than I should have.”

  “Come with me, I beg of you.”

  “Arillia.” He sighed. “We’ve been through this many times.”

  “Don’t ask me to leave you. If you remain at Torindan, then so should I.”

  A new argument presented itself. “Can you not see how vulnerable that looking after you would make me?”

  “Very well.” She heaved a breath. “I will yield, for your sake.”

  He gave her a swift kiss. “Thank you.”

  The sorrow in her eyes nearly broke his heart. “You must return to me.”

  “I have the same desire.” He turned from her. “Anders!”

  

  Rand remained standing before the sallyport, frozen in place, as Kai backed away.. “Draeg approaches, leading the best of Pilaer’s warriors.”

  Had Draeg’s emotions not shouted of desperation, his use of the soul touch would have betrayed it. He’d always avoided using the shil shael, for his fear of the spiritual realm prevented him from mastering it.

  Their father must have threatened even his favorite son.

  “Come away.” Kai’s voice penetrated Rand’s thoughts. “We must run to alert Craelin.”

  Rand shook his head. “That will give Draeg time to reach Mara and the Lof Shraen. He’ll not spare either of them.” Rand kept his voice low, but it throbbed with emotion. “Don’t ask me to abandon Mara to my half-brother’s mercies.”

  “It seems I have no choice but to trust you. Go and warn Craelin, and I’ll protect the Lof Shraen and his heir.”

  “I’d rather reverse our duties.”

  “Protecting Elcon is my duty, and he placed Mara in my charge as well.”

  Much as Rand hated to admit it, the plan held merit. Kai would be the better fighter, and he had access to Elcon and Mara. There was just one flaw. “Craelin won’t believe me.”

  Sword tips glinted from the stairway within the sallyport as the march of boots grew louder.

  “If he has eyes and ears he will, but if we argue any longer, he won’t have the chance. Run!”

  Rand launched into motion, keeping pace with Kai until the path split. He veered toward the smoldering sward and sprinted through the archway into the outer bailey. Servants, members of the garrison, and guardians shouted as they ran about. Flames shot out of windows in the kitchens, and a brigade passed buckets of water drawn from the well. Craelin was nowhere to be seen. Fighting a surge of panic, Rand put himself in the path of one of the guardians, who halted. “What’s amiss?”

  “Where is Craelin?” Rand measured out the words.

  The guardian shook his head. “I haven’t seen him.”

  Rand left the guardian and made short work of the stairs to the gatehouse battlements. Order reigned here, with archers stationed at every opening. Arrows flew, a perverse flock of birds with a bite that could kill, and he threw himself down to avoid being impaled. He rolled, gasping with pain from his shoulder, and fetched against the battlements. He landed at a flame-haired archer’s feet. The archer peered down at him, gaspng in pain from his injured shoulder. “What are you doing up here?”

  “Looking for Craelin,” Rand said between his teeth, “to deliver an urgent warning from Kai.”

  The archer’s expression clouded with mistrust. “Why does Kai send you to speak for him?”

  “You have to believe me.”

  A hand gripped Rand’s good arm from behind and pulled him to his feet. Rand swung around. Ash smudged the face before him, but he recognized Craelin’s glare. “I doubt Kai would trust you with a message.”

  “He had no choice. The Lof Shraen and Lof Raena are in peril, and he went to protect them.”

  A fierce light entered the first guardian’s eyes. “You’d better be telling the truth.”

  “Why would I lie about something so easy to check?”

  Craelin’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Well? What is this message you supposedly bring?”

  “Warriors have breached the wall through the sallyport. They will have entered the keep by now.”

  Craelin nodded to the archer. “Lock him in his chamber while I verify his story.”

  “Come with me,” the archer prompted.

  Rand fell into step beside him, thankful he hadn’t drawn his bow. He kept silent while they descended the stone steps, alert for an opportunity to break free. They reached a landing, and the archer turned aside toward Rand’s chamber.

  Rand vaulted partway down the next flight.

  “Stop!” the archer warned.

  The hair on the back of Rand’s neck stood on end. He kept going, flinging himself in an erratic pattern as arrows thudded against the walls.

  

  Elcon’s outer door stood ajar. Kai pushed it open wider. Empty. The inner chamber door also hung open. Nothing stirred within. A quick look into the dressing room, Ander’s chamber, and the meeting room yielded the same results. He returned to the corridor and, holding his sleeve over his nose and mouth, dashed through the acrid smoke toward Mara’s chambers.

  Footsteps echoed behind him.

  He pressed against the wall, but warriors from Pilaer might have already seen him. The thought galvanized him, and he sprang for the nearest doorway. Locked. He tried the next with the same results. A latch farther down the corridor gave beneath his hand. He slid inside a darkened storage chamber, leaving the door cracked.

  A warrior so like Freaer he could only be his son shoved into the Lof Shraen’s chambers. Before long, he emerged and crept along the corridor. He tried a locked door and gestured with his head. Two fighters in the colors of Pilaer applied their shoulders to the door. Wood splintered, followed by rushing feet.

  Sweat broke out on Kai’s brow. They would find him. He hung his sword over pegs above the door. With no other hiding place, it would have to do. In the dimness, it might escape notice. Feet scuffled outside the door. Kai heaved himself into an empty grain barrel and pulled the lid in place.

  The door slammed. Footfalls and muffled voices penetrated to Kai. Barely drawing breath, he waited for discovery.

 


  Mara banged the shutters and latched them.“The fire cannot be far off.” She spun about and met Traelein’s frightened gaze. “We should quit my chambers at once.”

  “Yes, milady.” Traelein’s voice held panic, and she seemed ready to bolt.

  As they entered the outer chamber, the door from the corridor burst open. Her father rushed in and held out his hand. “You must flee. Bring nothing but a cloak for you and your servant, and one for Arillia.”

  “Where will we go?”

  “To the allerstaed, where there is a way of escape. You were right all along, daughter. I ought to have sent you to Euryon when you suggested it.”

  “Who knows what might have happened?” She went to him, and he enfolded her in his arms.

  Footsteps accompanied the crashing and splintering of wood, and they broke apart.

  “What was that?” Mara peered through the doorway behind him, but the smoke made it hard to see.

  Another crash made her jump.

  “Warriors from Pilaer.” Her father faced the corridor, a deadly luster running along the blade he drew. “Hurry, there’s little time. You and your servant must both show courage. You’ll need to pass by the fire before it closes off the corridor to the allerstaed. Put your cloaks over your mouth and nose.”

  She held back. “Won’t you come, too?”

  “If it may be done, I will. Now promise you’ll run quick as you can without looking back, whatever happens.”

  “I promise.” The words caught in her throat, and she had to blink away tears. “Make haste, Traelein.” She tied her cloak about her and stepped into the hallway.

  Shadows grew on the wall as warriors swarmed toward her. Her heart pounded, and her mouth went dry. The urge to shrink back into her chamber and cower behind a bolted door overtook her.

  She flung herself toward the flames.

  

  Where had all the servants putting out the fire gone? Elcon could hardly fathom that they had all deserted the keep. Had any remained, they could have stood beside him now.

  A window broke behind him, adding fuel to the fire. He couldn’t tell if his daughter had moved past the flames before they surged. Her maidservant stood at an opening in the window with glass shards at her feet, gasping in air. What had she done? The fear widening her eyes explained why she had remained behind.

  “You must follow your mistress.” He called to her. Even now, it might not be too late to pass the flames.

  She retreated into Syl Marinda’s chamber and slammed the door shut. The bolt thudded into place.

  He pounded on the door, calling to her. Silence answered him. He turned away with sadness. If the warriors found her, she might rather have died by burning. He would shield her as long as he could, but against so many he had no hope of survival.

  A warrior stopped just short of him and waved the others back. “Elcon, son of Timraen, I am Draeg, son of Freaer, come to end your miserable life.”

  “At your cost.” He flung out the challenge.

  Draeg smiled. “Brave, or foolish, words.” He sliced the air with his sword.

  Elcon deflected his thrust, the clang of metal cutting through the calls of gathering warriors. Blow followed blow, swift and telling. Draeg’s skill with a blade could not be faulted. Elcon had returned to practice of late but was no match for a hardened warrior. His opponent left him no option but to yield, and he retreated with the fire’s heat searing his back.

  The splintering of wood came, and a scream vibrated from the direction of Syl Marinda’s chambers.

  Draeg checked at the sound.

  He must think they’d found Syl Marinda. The thought goaded Elcon to lunge, and he thrust his blade at his opponent’s chest with penetrating force.

  Draeg sidestepped, and his blade whipped through empty air.

  Elcon stepped in again, finding his mark.

  Draeg shrieked and fell back, blood oozing from a gash in his surcoat.

  Elcon braced for the backlash, which came with more fury than precision. Elcon met Draeg fully but found himself driven back by the strength of his opponent’s rage. Smoke stung his eyes. He couldn’t see…

  Cold steel sliced his side.

  32

  IN THE ALLERSTAED

  Mara’s lungs begged for air. The corridor tilted, and she slammed into the wall. Choking, she clung to crevices in the stone and sucked air into her burning lungs. She pushed away from the wall and staggered onward. The smoke thickened around her. A fit of coughing carried her once more to the wall. She couldn’t catch her breath this time. The archway to the allerstaed seemed a long way off.

  Traelein hadn’t followed. Fear must have held her back. What would become of her?

  She couldn’t think about that now, not while her legs refused to obey her will. She dropped to hands and knees. Her skirts hampered her attempt to crawl, snarling about her legs, dragging at her. The door to the allerstaed waited, just out of reach, so near she wanted to weep. A curious numbness assailed her. Blackness edged her vision. She fell into utter darkness.

  

  Rand slowed and caught his breath before opening the side door to the keep. The archer might pursue him still, but that was the least of his worries. He’d carried out his errand, although whether he’d convinced Craelein remained to be seen.

  Drawing his dagger, he started along the corridor. Crashing sounds and the clash of metal from the floors above guided him to the stairwell in the corner tower. As he climbed, the ruckus increased in pitch.

  He turned out of the tower at the highest floor. Light streamed in bars along the corridor, but he crept forward in the shadow that lay beneath the windows. Huddling close to the wall for concealment, he advanced toward the warriors from Pilaer forcing their way into chambers, room by room. Draeg must have ordered them to be thorough in their search for Elcon and Mara. No screams followed their intrusions. Those who dwelt in the keep must have vacated it after the dragonsfire struck. He couldn’t count on Mara having escaped, however., Searching for her with the shil shael yielded no results.

  The door beside him swung inward. Before he could react, a hand clamped over his on the dagger and an arm hauled him backwards into a darkened chamber and pinned him against the wall. “Taking on a band of warriors alone will earn you certain death.” Kai rasped close to his ear.

  “Better that than remaining idle.” Anger drove his reply but caution lowered his volume.

  “I understand your frustration, but we should attack together and guard one another’s backs.” Kai released him. “Have you no other weapon?”

  “I arrived with a sword, but the guards returned only my dagger.” If any poison lingered on the blade, it might change the odds in his favor, but that seemed a distant hope.

  Kai pressed the hilt of his own dagger into Rand’s free hand.

  Gratitude flooded him, as much for the mark of trust as for the blade. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but he had faced Draeg with less.

  A woman’s screeching raised the hair on his arms. What were they doing to her? He couldn’t know it came from Mara, but his stomach lurched anyway. Whoever she was, some poor creature was suffering. He’d have to stand forth.

  Apparently of the same mind, Kai took a sword down from above the door. Shoulder to shoulder, they moved along the corridor toward the small band of warriors riveted by something beyond them. He thought it might be the fire until the scrape and ching of swordplay reached him.

  The screaming came from behind a gaping doorway where a small group gathered. From the map of the keep his father had made him memorize before leaving Pilaer, that could only be Mara’s chamber.

  “Steady.” Kai urged, reminding him to step aside from emotions that would hinder his ability to think.

  They started toward the doorway. As they neared, a warrior at the edge of the group peered into the shadows hiding them. His cry of discovery blended into the crowd’s roaring. He leveled his sword, but Rand vaulted over the blade. His feet smas
hed into a broad chest. The warrior toppled, and his sword clattered to the floor. Rand tucked one of the daggers he carried into his boot sheath and snatched up the fallen sword.

  The screams from the chamber ceased abruptly.

  Rand broke into a sweat.

  Warriors turning away from the doorway ran at them.

  Kai shifted into position behind Rand. They stood back-to-back with blades leveled.

  The warriors circled them, calling to those further down the corridor. Some left the sword fight to join them. Others rushed toward the flames, beating at them with blankets. Why were they bent on putting out the fire? Unless….

  The only credible answer settled the sickness churning his stomach.

  Mara must be escaping through the secret passage in the allerstaed.

  “Halt!” The shouted word silenced the mob, which parted. Down the passageway thus formed strode Draeg. His eyes glittered in meeting Rand’s. “This fight belongs to me.”

  Emotion choked Rand’s throat as he waited for his half-brother to strike.

  Draeg held up his sword, from which blood dripped. “I’ve just taken the life of my father’s enemy,. I’ll take you on, Misbegotten, and your defender also.”

  Rand swallowed against a sour taste. However this ended, he wouldn’t like the outcome. “Does it matter to you at all that we are brothers?” Even as he asked the question, he knew its uselessness. Their kinship had never mattered to Draeg except as a reason to make him suffer.

  “The garn you slew was more brother to me.” Draeg sneered. “You were nothing but an embarrassment. You brought shame to my father, pining for his enemy’s daughter. Oh, yes, I guessed about that. Well, know this. She has no hope of living. While you lie cold and dead, she’ll be mine.”

  Rand ignored Draeg’s lies and focused on the truth. “Mara lives?”

  Not for long,” Draeg sneered. “once I’ve dealt with you.”

  “She’s done nothing to deserve death.”

  “You’ve always been soft. I’ll never know why Father thought to make a warrior of you.”

  “We agree on that point, at least.”

  Draeg’s brow furrowed. “You’ve changed.”