by A J Park
Kalleck settled himself against the wall again, absently rubbing his leg. It stung. A small, thin dart had hit him during the battle. It was like nothing he’d seen the sea-folk use before.
Sinnar came in quietly and sat down beside him.
“Is everything all right?” Kalleck asked.
“Yes. I’ve changed the watches, and some men are coming to check the wounded. They will be here soon. What happened to your leg?”
Kalleck hadn’t even realized he was rubbing it again. “A dart hit it. I barely felt it at the time, but it hurts worse now.”
“What was it? Do you still have it?”
“No. It was in the middle of the battle.”
CHAPTER 9
Lady Shalyrie Almorin
When she opened her eyes, Shalyrie wasn’t sure where she was. The room had a low ceiling, and she turned to see that it was empty, except for a few broken pieces of furniture pushed up against the walls. She was covered by a blanket, but the floor was hard beneath her.
Memory settled on her like a weight. She couldn’t go home. When she’d tried to go back, one of her own people had attempted to kill her. It was one thing to be hurt accidentally or in the confusion when arrows were flying everywhere.
The horsemen had not really intended to hurt her. This was different. The man, and whoever had sent him, wanted to kill her specifically. Her. Why would they do it? It was ridiculous! What had she ever done to deserve it?
She had always felt safe before. Not anymore.
And Olthorin was gone. If he could get to Uncle Telthan, the king would stop them. But how was he going to get to the king, and how long would it take? It was a long way just to get back to the bridge, and farther still from there to Newport. And how could anyone get word to Uncle Telthan when he was at sea?
Shalyrie pushed herself up to a sitting position. The blanket fell down into her lap, and she saw the whole front of her dress was caked with dried blood. For a moment, she was back at the village and the man was coming at her with a knife again, crushing her to the ground, trying to push the knife into her heart. She felt the sickening sensation of his blood running down onto her. A wave of nausea swept over her. She leaned her head back against the wall, closed her eyes, and tried to breathe slowly and evenly.
She opened her eyes again when she heard footsteps. It was Kalleck. She recognized the way he walked, the familiar pattern of colors of his armband, and the gold on the shoulder of his armor. He stood looking down at her.
Finally, he spoke. “Will you return to the Hidden City with me? You can remain there as our guest until we resolve this.”
“Will your people object? They aren’t used to… guests.”
“You have already worked to help our people. I cannot permit you to see the city or our people unmasked, but you will be safe there until we find a solution.”
“Won’t Galenor try to attack you again?” she protested. “What if they try to kill your people?” She was not willing to be the cause of any more killing. She couldn’t do that.
“I have moved all of my people back within the valley now, and we are guarding the border. So unless they come with all their forces, they will not get in.”
“And what if they do attack with all their forces?”
“Perhaps they will,” he said. “But it will take them some time to prepare. We can hope that your brother is able to stop them. In the meantime, you will be safe with us.”
What other option did she have? None that she knew of. She would have to go with Kalleck, and she was grateful for his protection. At least she didn’t have to worry about what to do next.
He offered his black-gloved hand. She took it and he helped her up.
She was stiff and sore, but she could walk, if slowly. They emerged into a gray, rainy morning. The air was crisp and damp, and she shivered, clutching the blanket around herself.
Kalleck helped her onto a horse and then wrapped a thick, black cloak around her, mounting the horse behind her. All the other horsemen were already ready to go.
They rode all day. The sky remained cloudy and it rained intermittently. Shalyrie was damp and chilled, and her body was sore. As the day went on, her shoulder began throbbing so badly that she almost didn’t notice anything else. The clouds began to break up just at sunset, and the stars began to come out. There was nothing around them, except wet forest, hills and rocks. But at least it wasn’t raining anymore.
Kalleck helped her down from the horse. She wouldn’t have been able to walk if he hadn’t been supporting her. He led her to a reasonably dry place under the shelter of an overhanging boulder. She wrapped the cloak around herself and sank to the ground. It was so good to be still. It was a long time before the pain in her shoulder quieted. She didn’t move. She was too tired to do anything but watch the horsemen as they built fires in sheltered places between the rocks and took care of their horses.
Kalleck brought wood and quickly built a small fire. Gratefully, Shalyrie turned her face to feel the warmth. He sat down beside her. She looked at his masked face and spoke with an effort. She felt too tired to talk. “You… saved my life yesterday. Thank you.”
He nodded.
The horsemen around her made camp, ate a meal, and settled for sleep. Kalleck brought Shalyrie water, and she drank. She was too exhausted to eat more than a couple bites of food. It grew quickly colder, and she huddled near the fire. The night was long, and Shalyrie never could get warm. When dawn came, she still felt tired. The horsemen rose early and were soon in the saddle again. They rode upward, deeper into the hills.
Kalleck had covered her eyes before they crossed the ridge into the valley. “I’m sorry,” he had said. “I do not intend you disrespect.”
So she had ridden blind and had not objected. Maybe it was for the best. Blindfolded, she couldn’t see the horsemen staring at her. What did she look like to them? Her clothing and coloring would instantly mark her as a stranger and an enemy. These men had just been in battle with her people. Shalyrie felt lost and alone now, not to mention that she was bedraggled, filthy and covered with the gore of battle. Blindfolded, she could pretend that no one was looking.
They arrived back in the city at midday the next day. Shalyrie could tell they’d arrived by the change of sound as the horses’ hooves struck the cobblestones inside the gates.
She heard and smelled the stables, and the horse finally stopped. She almost cried in relief. No more riding. Ever. She felt Kalleck dismount, and then he helped her down. She was too tired to walk. Her knees buckled and, without Kalleck, she would have fallen.
“You can rest soon,” he promised. He set her down, and then she felt herself being picked up and carried. She heard voices and the noises of the city, and it all faded into a blur. She felt them set her down and pull the blindfold off her eyes. She looked up and saw the same room she had been in before.
“Rest,” Kalleck said, and she turned to look at him. He nodded to the girl standing beside him. Shalyrie recognized her from before, but hadn’t known her name. “Kellji will help you wash, and she will treat your injuries.”
Shalyrie put her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Kalleck,” she said.
He put his hand over hers for a moment, and then he was gone. Everyone was gone, except for the girl.
“Kellji?” Shalyrie asked.
The girl’s eyes smiled. “Kellji,” she agreed, pointing to herself.
“Shalyrie,” she pointed to herself.
“Shalyrie,” Kellji repeated.
Someone else was there now, bringing hot water that they emptied into a washtub before departing.
Shalyrie had never needed a bath so badly in her life. She longed to remove the dried blood from her skin, and she hoped that washing it away would ease the memory of violence.
Kellji helped her undress and slip into the warm water. The girl pointed to the
bandages on Shalyrie’s shoulder. She said something and then carefully unwrapped it.
Shalyrie was glad she couldn’t see the worst part of the wound.
Kellji cleaned it, and Shalyrie gritted her teeth as the wound stung. Still, her shoulder was so much better than it had been. Kellji’s hands were gentle and confident.
She moved to the cut where the assassin had tried to stab Shalyrie, gently cleansing it. When she looked at Shalyrie, her eyes were sympathetic.
She pointed to Shalyrie’s leg, already half-submerged in the water. Kellji unwrapped the bandage, and Shalyrie realized that a cut there had been neatly stitched closed. Kellji expertly eased the stitches out and lowered the leg back into the water.
The warm water made Shalyrie relax a little, and she felt her eyes closing. Kellji woke her before she could fall completely asleep and coaxed her out of the water, then re-bandaged her wounds, and helped her dress. She didn’t remember getting back into bed.
CHAPTER 10
Kalleck, Son of Gallidack, First Guardian of the Yalkur
Kalleck rubbed his leg. It felt strangely numb, but at least it was no longer stinging. When he undressed to wash, he examined it and found that the skin around the wound had turned black. Not good. He sent for Kern to look at it.
Kern looked worried. “Why didn’t you show me this sooner?” he demanded.
“We only just got back,” Kalleck retorted.
“Have you already treated this with the sacred water?”
“Yes, of course,” Kalleck said.
“Do it again,” Kern ordered. “Keep doing it. This looks bad. I will see if I can find any medicine that will help. Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore,” Kalleck replied. “It feels numb.”
“Just around the wound?”
“No. I can barely feel my leg.”
Hannal, Second Guardian of the Yalkur
Hannal was in the council chamber. A lantern lit the table, but the edges of the large room were lost in shadows. He had just finished meeting with the last of the clan leaders. Every clan was worried, but they would do their part to defend the people.
Healer Kern came down the stairs and sat down heavily in a chair across from Hannal. Kern didn’t look like he had good news.
“What is it?” Hannal asked.
“I have told no one else,” Kern said quietly. “I came to you first. It’s Kalleck.”
“What?” Had something happened? Hannal stomach clenched with worry. “But I saw him when he came back. He was fine. It can’t have been anything serious.”
“He received a wound in the battle. The injury itself is small, but it appears to be poisoned.”
“Poisoned? How?”
“He said a dart struck him. You’d better see for yourself. Come with me.”
They went back to Kalleck’s room and Hannal followed Kern inside. Kalleck lay in his bed.
“You didn’t tell me you were hurt!” Hannal exclaimed, bending over him.
“I’m fine,” Kalleck protested, opening his eyes. “It won’t last.”
“Let me see it.”
Kalleck shrugged.
Kern pulled back the covers to expose the wound on Kalleck’s thigh. It was black and dark lines were radiating from it.
“It’s getting worse all the time,” Kern said. “And I’ve already tried everything I know. The sacred water appears to slow the poison. Otherwise, he might already be dead.”
“No, I just need a little rest,” Kalleck insisted. “It will pass.” But his voice sounded vague and unfocused—not like Kalleck at all.
“Have you told High Priestess Allemi yet?” Hannal asked.
“Not yet,” Kern said. “First Guardian Kalleck ordered me not to tell her when I treat him. He said he would tell her himself. But this time, he’s not going to be able to do that.”
“We have to tell her. She’s his mother. She needs to know.”
Lady Shalyrie Almorin
Shalyrie opened her eyes to see the carved beams on the ceiling of her room in Kalleck’s city. She’d left this room just a few days ago, thinking she would never be here again. Now she was back. Only this time she was alone. Where was Olthorin? He must be somewhere out in the hills, hopefully safe. There was nothing she could do now but try to recover and wait for news.
The old healer came to check on her, and Kellji came soon after, bringing breakfast. She helped Shalyrie get up, and they sat together at the table.
Kellji began to point at things and say their names in Yalkur, or act out movements and then say the words. Shalyrie listened attentively. She needed to learn. Kalleck was not there, and he was the only one who could talk to her. She wanted to be able to communicate, to ask questions. She did her best to learn until Kellji had to go.
Shalyrie rested in the comfortable chair, now alone in the room. Kalleck didn’t come.
The day passed slowly. She was bored and lonely, but grateful for the rest. A second day passed much the same. She was hungry for information. What was going on out in the hills? Had there been more attacks? Was there any word from Olthorin? But there was no one there to give her news, and she went to sleep with her questions unanswered.
Shalyrie was awakened by a hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her before she had time to scream. Instinctively, she struggled, but hands had seized her from all sides, hurting her injured shoulder. Someone threw a cloak over her head and carried her out.
There was very little sound, and she could see nothing. She felt herself being carried down the stairs and out the door, but after that, she had no idea where they were taking her. Where was Kalleck? He said she would be safe. Had the angry man from the bridge finally decided to get rid of her?
They carried her for a while and then put her roughly down onto a stone floor. In a panic, she fought to pull the cloak from her head so she could see. The room was made of stone and had a low ceiling. She pressed her back up against one of the walls, shrinking away from the men who had brought her here.
There were several of them, dressed like all the other horsemen she had seen. In the dim light, she couldn’t tell if any of their armbands were familiar. They stared back at her from behind their masks, then they all turned to face the door. There was someone else there. He was wearing a long cloak ornamented with feathers and some kind of ceremonial headdress.
Who was he? What would he do?
He came slowly nearer, and the man holding the lantern followed him. There was enough light that she could see his eyes flashing with anger and contempt. He nodded to his men and two of them picked her up so she was facing him. Pain flared from her shoulder.
He stared at her with eyes full of hate.
He’s going to kill me.
The man spoke to her, but she didn’t understand him. His voice was cold and vicious. He struck her and pain erupted on the side of her face. But he didn’t do anything else. Instead, he just turned away. As he did so, the two men holding her abruptly dropped her to the ground. They all left, taking the light with them.
Shalyrie heard the sound of a heavy door shutting. She was alone in the dark. How long would it be before the man in the feathers came back to kill her? She needed Kalleck to find her first.
Kalleck, please help. Please.
Shalyrie huddled against the bare stone wall. It was completely dark and silent. What was she going to do now? She wrapped the cloak around herself as tightly as she could. It was very cold.
A long time later, she noticed a little light. There was a tiny opening with a grate over it at one end of the room. It must have been morning outside. She could see the room around her now. There were a few wooden boxes, but mostly it was empty. She could also see the door. Slowly, she got to her feet and went to it. It was locked, of course.
She explored the whole room and couldn’t find any means of escape. Even if she c
ould get out, where would she go? Into the Hidden City they would kill her for seeing? There were no good options.
The day passed slowly. No one came. There was no food, no water, and no comfort of any kind. Eventually, night came again, but it was too cold to sleep. In the bare room, Shalyrie huddled in the cloak they had brought her in, but the cold seeped in until she shivered uncontrollably.
With the light gone, it was completely black and she couldn’t see anything. Finally, she got up and moved around, trying to warm herself. The stone floor was cold and rough under her bare feet. The walking warmed her a little, but the night was long and sleepless. At least no one had come to hurt her.
When morning finally came again, it gradually grew warmer until she stopped shivering. She slept a little. Another day came and went, and the light faded into darkness again. Were they just going to leave her here until she died of hunger and thirst?
The sound of the heavy door opening startled her into wakefulness. Oh, no… It was the man in the headdress.
She got to her feet and backed into the farthest corner of the room. There were four men with him. What were they going to do to her? She said nothing but stared at them in terror. They looked back at her, faces masked, eyes cold.
The man yelled something at her. She caught a word or two, but not enough to understand. Why did he keep talking to her as if he expected a response? She only knew a little of the language, and shouting at her was not going to help her learn it. She waited, trying to prepare herself for the pain.
He shouted again and then struck her, and she found herself on the floor. She shrank away from them, shielding her face and head with her arms. A kick landed on the side of her thigh, and the feathered man was shouting again.