“Forge master smith, first class,” Gutch corrected, pride in his voice, but then it was obvious that the many convoluted ranks of the worker caste meant nothing to Ashok. “I was high status among my people, or was, until I got stuck in prison over a little misunderstanding.”
Considering the usual penalty for smuggling unregistered magic was death, Gutch must have had resources sufficient to bribe a judge. “I assume you’ve come to speak about what we will do once we reach the city.”
“Correct. My contacts in Neeramphorn have among their customers some wizards called the Lost House, a dangerous, secretive lot, always hungry for…certain goods…”
“You may speak freely. They’re trafficking in illegal magic. A serious offense, but it’s no longer my place to enforce the Law.”
“Good. I prefer to speak honestly,” Gutch said, but Ashok doubted that very much. “I’ll level with you. I was merely a tracker. We’re a rare breed. There aren’t many of us who’ve got the gift of sensing magic over distance.”
His old sword master, Lord Protector Ratul, had also had such an affinity, and could even sense when things had been previously manipulated by magic. Ashok wondered if that extraordinary vision had contributed to Ratul’s descent into traitorous madness and religious fanaticism. “I am familiar with it.”
“That’s how I can tell you’ve got magic in your blood. Every Protector I’ve ever come across has. You’ve all been changed, whole men turned into something more.”
The Heart of the Mountain was the Order’s greatest weapon and most precious secret. “That is none of your concern.”
“Concerned me enough that when I sense one of them coming, I run for my life. Though none carry more of it in them than you, and I’m not talking about that shard stuck in your chest either. Far as I can tell, magic has been twisting you since you were a child.”
The worker was correct. After Angruvadal had chosen a casteless child to be its bearer, Vadal wizards had broken his mind, erased his memories, and rebuilt him as the perfect servant of the Law, but even thinking about Bidaya’s conspiracy filled him with disgust. “You were speaking of your contacts.”
“Understand…Back to business, men like me find the bits. Sometimes part of a demon corpse will wash up on shore, or an old chunk of black steel will get unearthed. Now we’re supposed to report such finds, but civic responsibility doesn’t put food on your table. Legal magic is expensive and the Inquisition controls who gets access to how much. People always want more. So I get those magic bits to my friends—think of them as a loose organization whose job it is to know people—then they sell to wizards, great houses, ambitious Thakoors, whoever, all off the books, with the Capitol and its tax collectors none the wiser. Everyone profits.”
Such flaunting of the Law offended Ashok to the core of his being. It was a testament to his absolute dedication to his new orders that he didn’t strike the brazen criminal down on the spot. Instead he just nodded. “I see.”
“It may take me a few days to put together a meeting, they’re careful like that. It can’t be rushed, but I’ll approach my old friends. Then we’ll see about how to find this Lost House who stole away your false prophet. However, you’ve earned a certain reputation among my business associates. You’re what we’d refer to as a detriment to commerce. As in you’ve massacred large numbers of them over the last twenty years.”
Ashok shrugged. “Then they should not have been Law breakers.”
“If they smell a Protector coming, they’ll run.”
“That is no longer my station.”
“Regardless of your current legal troubles, the name Ashok Vadal might as well be a synonym for Protector. All my people tell stories about you to scare our youngsters so they don’t get sloppy. Cover your tracks, lads, lest the Black Heart finds you out. You can’t be anywhere near. If my friends discover I’m working with you, I’ll get a knife between my ribs, and then they’ll disappear down a hole so deep and dark you’ll never find them.”
He found it interesting that Gutch said working with, rather than for, but the worker and Jagdish had come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. A partnership those two had called it. Jagdish wanted revenge on the wizards who had murdered the Cold Stream guards, and Gutch would help find them in exchange for any magical fragments recovered from the wizards. Though Ashok did not himself fully grasp the intricacies of profit, it was a supremely powerful motivator to those of the worker caste.
“I will defer to your knowledge on this topic, Gutch.”
“Good. Jagdish said despite your tendency for abrupt decision making, you were a thoughtful sort.”
“I am. Which is why I will be sending Jagdish with you into the city.”
“What?” Gutch sputtered. “I assure you, that’s not necessary. Once a worker shakes on something, the deal is sealed. Gutch is no betrayer of trusts!”
Ashok had been condemned to live the rest of his life as a rebel, not a fool. “During those twenty years I spent hunting down criminals, I learned a few things about them. They have no honor and they will turn on each other for the smallest reward.”
He let that hang there, purposefully unclear if he was speaking about Gutch or his associates. The last bounty he’d seen offered for his head had been a vast sum. He didn’t know what it would be in these lands, but it was surely more than enough to tempt a greedy worker.
Gutch slowly nodded. “Of course. I’m certain honorable Jagdish will be of great assistance in this endeavor.”
Informing on him to the authorities would even be the proper legal thing to do. It annoyed Ashok to no end that he was being placed in opposition to his beloved Law and everything he’d ever worked for, but he couldn’t fulfill the Grand Inquisitor’s commands otherwise.
“I, too, prefer to speak honestly, worker. Be aware, I do not care about your petty crimes or what you intend to do with their treasure after I have dealt with these wizards. My only purpose left is to find and protect the prophet of the Forgotten. To do this, I will do whatever is necessary. If you are faced with any difficult choices in the city, I would advise choosing the wiser path.”
“What do you mean by wiser path?”
“Take the one that does not place you as my adversary…” Gutch had seen the pile of corpses Ashok had left in Jharlang, so he paused to let his words sink in. “That’ll be all.”
Gutch stood up with a grunt. “Night, General.” This time when he wandered off through the trees he forgot to make a good show of blundering through the dark. In fact he didn’t so much as step on a single twig.
Chapter 6
As the runner delivered his message, Devedas grew angrier and angrier, until the muscles of his jaw had clenched and he caught himself grinding his teeth together. He tried not to let his fury show. As a Lord Protector of the Order, it wouldn’t do to let his composure slip in front of his men.
When the warrior finished his report, Devedas thanked him for undertaking such a long journey and told him to go and get some food, drink, and sleep. The Order had requisitioned the entire inn for the night, and kicked everyone else out. Most of the Protectors were out questioning the locals, so the messenger could take whichever bed was free. The exhausted man was happy to comply.
When only Protectors remained, they were able to speak freely.
“Where the hell is Shabdkosh?” asked Ishaan Harban.
“Just within the northern border of Makao, in the desert west of Akara. I was born near there,” said Teerapat, the youngest Protector present. “He’s attacking my house!”
“I know this place.” A map of Lok had been unrolled on the bar, and Karno Uttara stabbed one thick finger into a spot south of the Capitol. It wasn’t important enough to warrant a dot on the map. “Approximately there.”
While they’d been heading east to search for him, Ashok had somehow slipped past them and traveled west. But why? The Inquisition had witnesses claiming to have seen Ashok Vadal there, clear as day, and the high body count cert
ainly made it sound plausible.
“It makes no sense,” Karno muttered to himself.
None of it made sense. The last time Devedas has spoken to Ashok, he’d seemed content to voluntarily rot in a prison cell, yearning for execution.
“He’s gone to war against the Law,” Teerapat said. “Of course he’d strike near the Capitol.”
“This doesn’t feel like Ashok’s work. Poisoning wells? Burning homes with people trapped inside? No. That’s too impersonal. Ashok has killed multitudes, but most of those face to face.”
“The revelation he was casteless drove him insane. You can’t expect logic from someone like that.”
Karno shrugged. “I’ve known Ashok longer than you.”
“I wouldn’t brag about being friends with the most infamous traitor in the world!” Teerapat snapped.
Karno frowned at the insult, but the big man was slow to anger. Devedas on the other hand, was not.
“That’s enough, two-year senior. I was closer to Ashok than anyone. I loved him as my brother. None of us knew who he really was. He didn’t even know who he really was. So be very careful who you may be giving offense to by suggesting we should have somehow known better.”
Teerapat swallowed hard. The Lord Protector had no patience for offense. The long scar down Devedas’ face was a reminder that he had once even been willing to duel the bearer of an ancestor blade. That event had become legend among the younger members of the Order. The Protector gave his superior an apologetic bow.
However, Devedas knew that Teerapat wasn’t entirely wrong…“It brings embarrassment, but it does no good for us to pretend Ashok wasn’t one of us. When Ratul betrayed the Law and went to live among the fanatics, Lord Protector Mindarin’s strategy was to act as if Ratul had never existed at all. He went off to die in obscurity, and Ratul Without Mercy was forgotten. Even among our brothers we seldom acknowledge him. But Ashok is not Ratul. Ashok will not be ignored. He is a man of singular purpose, even if we no longer know what that purpose is, he will follow it. And as long as Ashok lives he will bring shame to this Order.”
“We’ll find him,” Ishaan stated.
“We’d better. Men wearing our armor, carrying our insignia, claiming our name, helped Ashok escape. Why? Who were they? I’ve accounted for the whereabouts of every one of us during those dates. No Protector was involved but the judges consider my word tainted.” Devedas had a difficult time hiding his disgust for their supposed betters. “There are forces within the Capitol who think we were at best incompetent, and at worst, complicit. They would have us all held accountable for his crimes.”
In the flickering candlelight of the dreary inn, the men in the silver armor faced the grim truth. Failure to apprehend the traitor Ashok threatened the very existence of their entire Order.
“I agree with Karno about this attack,” said Ishaan. “I remember one time when Ashok wouldn’t even wear an executioner’s hood at a beheading because it struck him as dishonest.”
“Regardless. Even if this latest slaughter wasn’t his doing, the Capitol thinks it was, and thus we must be seen responding.” Like most men who’d actually accomplished things in their lives, Devedas had a great deal of contempt for politicians, but his office was forcing him to learn to think like one. “I’ll go to Shabdkosh myself. Ishaan, as the other Protectors return, divide them into groups of at least three, and assign them search areas. I want to question every settlement expanding outwards from our two potential sightings in Jharlang and Shabdkosh. The winter has been mild so far, so most of the routes are still open. Obligate the local warriors to serve as our runners so we can stay in contact. Cooperate with the Inquisitors, but don’t trust them. Their Order has much to gain if ours fails.”
“It’ll be done, Lord Protector,” Ishaan assured him.
“We’d cover three times as much ground working alone,” Teerapat suggested.
All of the older Protectors who had actually fought alongside Ashok looked at each other incredulously, and then burst out laughing.
“Oceans, to think that I was that young and stupid once,” Karno declared.
Devedas knew there wasn’t a single coward among them, and that made him afraid of how many of them would die before Ashok was stopped. “This is no mere criminal. He’s a force of destruction. I send three at a time, because if they’re unfortunate enough to have Angruvadal drawn against them, then one might get away to warn the rest of us. With each reliable sighting, we will tighten the noose until we can bring our full might to bear. You’re dismissed.”
The Protectors began to leave. They were all good men, some of the finest the Order had ever seen. But some of them were sharper than others. For his special assignment he needed someone both capable and loyal to a fault. “One moment, Karno. I need to speak with you.”
The big man waited while his brothers went to their duties. Between the bulk, the huge beard, and the unkempt mane of hair, Karno looked like some forest beast they’d managed to dress in armor. He was a man of few words, and when he used them, they were always painfully to the point. “What?”
“Sit down.” Devedas gestured toward one of the bar stools. “I’ve got a different assignment for you.”
The poor stool creaked beneath his weight. Wearing his armor, Karno probably broke a lot of chairs. “You should send me wherever you think Ashok’s most likely to go.”
“I wish I could. We both know there’s only a few of us who’d stand a chance against him in a fair fight.”
“If your fight is fair, then your tactics were stupid.”
Devedas chuckled. As much as they’d tried to forget Ratul, the old sword master’s lessons had stuck with them. “Sorry, my friend, but I have need of your wisdom elsewhere.”
Karno scowled at the mention of wisdom. He was known for being good at two things. Solving crimes, and then bashing the criminals responsible with his war hammer. He preferred the latter to the former.
“I’ve got an important witness, who has information concerning a conspiracy within the Capitol, but recent events have left me wondering if she is sufficiently hidden.”
“As you know, I will always do as I am commanded, even if it’s wasting my time bodyguarding your lady friend.”
“Karno…”
“Who you shouldn’t have feelings for anyway, seeing as we’re one of the few Orders where marriage is forbidden until after our obligation is fulfilled. That’s the kind of thing I should have to tell first year acolytes, not Lord Protectors.”
“In this case, Rada is just a witness. Nothing more.”
Karno snorted. “I’ll admit, the librarian is rather clever, and lovely too, but you should make do with pleasure women like the rest of us. If you’ve got no attachment they can’t be used against you. I never even bother to learn their names.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Obviously. I could see that every time you looked at her. They call me Blunt Karno, not Blind Karno.”
He’d never intended to fall in love. He’d worked far too hard to attain his current rank to jeopardize it over something as childish as romance. And though he could never confide his plans in a man as Law abiding as Karno, he intended to use his current position to attain a far greater status. Even if his gamble worked and he became king of Omand’s usurper government, then the logical thing to do was marry a high-status woman from whatever great house he needed to shore up an alliance with.
Yet, Devedas had willingly walked into this trap. He’d known many women, but none of them were like her. Even though it complicated matters politically, he was determined that Rada would be his wife. And once Devedas set his mind to something, he saw it through.
“It is what it is.” Devedas reached over the bar and pulled out the first bottle he found. Then he found two glasses. He pulled the cork with his teeth.
“Allow me to set aside our relative ranks for a moment and speak freely, Lord Protector.”
“A horde of demons couldn’t stop Blunt
Karno from speaking freely,” Devedas said as he poured them both a drink.
“If you truly care for this woman, do the right thing. Twenty-three years now you’ve served the Law. You’ve more than fulfilled your obligation. You’ve seen more bloodshed and awfulness than most warriors can even imagine. You deserve to retire in peace, make that pretty librarian your wife, and raise a gang of good-looking children.”
“It’s not that simple.” He pushed the drink over to Karno.
“Everything is simple. You just insist on making it complicated.”
There was nothing simple about becoming a king.
“I still have work to do.”
“I swear, Devedas, you are the most ambitious man I have ever known.”
You have no idea. “These are perilous times.”
“Truth. We were just planning on how best to hunt down and kill someone I respect more than anyone else in the world.” It was interesting that Karno used the present tense rather than the past for respect. “I’m guessing since you two were so close, you feel compelled to stick around, denying yourself happiness, until you feel things have been put right.”
The theory was incorrect, but Karno would surely try and kill him if he knew the truth. Protectors were supposed to put the Law ahead of personal ambition for a reason. “You’re a perceptive man, Karno.”
“Ashok’s not your fault you know.”
“Perhaps he is. I tried and failed to take Angruvadal once.”
“And nearly got your face cut off in the process.”
Devedas laughed. “Ashok and I were only children. But how different would everything have turned out if that sword had found me worthy?”
“You can’t dwell on the past.”
“Oh, you’re wrong about that, brother.” He’d had another opportunity to challenge Ashok for the sword, not too long ago, confronting his old friend in his prison cell after learning the truth about his origins, but he’d hesitated—for reasons he still couldn’t fully grasp—and his chance for an honorable duel had been lost.
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