“Oh, come on!” She popped her head out of the vent. “Will you just—?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you promised René you wouldn’t take Vano’s gold.”
She hung on the edge of the vent and pouted.
“Tenzin, we need to go.” Ben could see the crowd beginning to break apart. “It’s almost midnight.”
She sighed deeply and dropped the gold on the floor; then she slipped from the vent with ease and nudged the vent back into place. “You’re still no fun.”
“That’s not what you said when you woke me up tonight.” He hooked his arm through hers. “Ready?”
They took off, stepping off the roof and gliding through the sky until they came to land across the clearing on a roof shaded by a large oak tree.
“What are we doing?” Tenzin asked. “We need to meet René.”
Ben reached for the two pouches. “I may not be greedy, but I want to see them.”
Tenzin crossed her legs and sat. “They’re beautiful.”
Ben unwrapped the first one, which was Vano’s. It was encased in embroidered red silk. He carefully removed it from the padded sleeve and almost drooled.
The goblet was nearly a copy of Kezia’s carved citrine, but it was crafted from a ruby the size of Ben’s fist. The base was carved with a similar inscription, and the edges were smoothed from age.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“Look at Radu’s.”
The leather took a little longer to unwrap, but as it fell softly into the palm of Ben’s hand, he felt the innate power in the ancient carved gemstone. He picked up the ruby in his right hand and held the emerald in his left.
“I feel like an emperor right now.”
“I imagine whatever Persian king gifted them felt the same.”
“Holy shit.” He nearly groaned. “I get it.”
“We can’t keep them.” Tenzin sighed. “Sadly. They are completely unique. And also completely foundational for Poshani culture. We wouldn’t be robbing an individual, we would be robbing a people.”
Ben handed her the ruby goblet. “One toast.”
Tenzin took it and grinned. “If only we had some blood-wine.”
“Cheers.” Ben ever so gently tapped the edge of the emerald goblet to the edge of the ruby one. Then he leaned over and kissed Tenzin on the mouth. “We pulled off another one, partner.”
“We stole it back,” she said. “Now to get just a little revenge.”
38
Stealing a scarf for Tenzin and a cap for Ben allowed them to blend into the crowd surrounding a central stage where three elaborate chairs had been placed. The middle chair was draped in gold and orange ribbons. The one on the left was draped in crimson, and the one on the left in vivid green.
Tenzin nudged Ben. “They don’t look very happy.”
It was true. Kezia, Vano, and Radu were conferring in the center of the stage, a circle of the Hazar gathered close around them. Ben could see Radu’s expression, both worried and a little confused. Kezia looked furious, and Vano’s eyes roamed the crowd.
“Do you think he suspects us?” Ben asked.
“I think he’s thinking that someone double-crossed him. He suspects everyone.”
Vano’s eyes came to rest on René, who was lounging in a raised sitting area for the guests of the kamvasa. Ben spotted Tatyana not far from him, along with most of the other vampire guests. A few old faces were gone, replaced by vampires Ben didn’t recognize. One vampire he did recognize was Oleg, the famous fire vampire from Russia whom Tatyana had been hiding from.
Well, shit. That was inconvenient.
They were on opposite sides of the platform, avoiding each other. Oleg was only half watching the festivities—most of his attention was locked on Tatyana.
Tatyana, on her end, was completely ignoring Oleg. In the safety of the kamvasa, whatever disagreement they had couldn’t be acted on. She was protected, but Ben saw her nerves in the tight lines of her jaw and neck.
Ben asked, “Why are the Poshani allowing guests in? I thought all the secret stuff happened when outsiders are gone.”
“Any judgments or internal conflicts will be handled in private, but these” —she nodded to the vampires watching— “I’m guessing, are the witnesses. This is like an inauguration or a coronation. They need witnesses for legitimacy. Not a lot, but a few very trusted individuals.”
“Like René?” Ben was incredulous.
“He probably paid someone for a ticket.” She looked at Ben. “It would have been expensive.”
“No wonder he doesn’t want us messing his score up,” Ben muttered under his breath.
At the base of the sitting area was a line of chairs, all with various humans and immortals sitting in them. All looked dressed to the nines with expressions wavering between confident and nervous.
“Candidates.” Ben nodded at the line of seats. “The ones hoping to be chosen.”
“They have no idea.” Tenzin looked around the crowd. “This could turn ugly.”
“We have to time it exactly right.”
As if on cue, Kezia stepped forward and raised her hands. “My brothers and sisters, welcome to Vashana!”
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd.
“As all of you know, this is the Vashana Zata, a special night held only once every hundred years. Because of this occasion, we have invited a few trusted guests from the kamvasa.” Kezia nodded to the raised sitting platform. “Our guests honor this trust and the privilege they have been granted.”
Ben leaned down. “Meaning talk about our shit out of turn and be hunted to your grave.”
“Exactly.”
“This night will decide the next hundred years of leadership,” Kezia continued. “Some of us may move on from our humble seats of servanthood—”
Hushed whispers from the area around the candidates, who appeared to be calculating their chances.
“—and some of us will remain, sharing the wisdom of the terrin with the newest member.”
“That’s smart,” Ben said. “So they won’t all choose a new member?”
“Despite my extraordinary wisdom and knowledge—”
“Not to mention your humility.”
“—you know as much about this as I do.” Tenzin glanced at him. “It sounds like you’re correct.”
Someone shouted from the crowd. Ben didn’t understand much of it, but one word stood out as the crowd around them began to chant.
“Dishana!”
Kezia’s face froze.
“Dishana, dishana, dishana!”
“The goblets,” Tenzin said. “They’re asking for the goblets.”
The crowd grew in energy. Ben could feel it rising around him like a fog rising from the ground. The Hazar flew into the air, surrounding the crowd. The crowd quieted, and shouts turned to muttering and whispers.
“Sadly,” Kezia continued, “the trust of the kamvasa has been breached.”
Dead. Silence.
“Someone has used our hospitality against us,” Kezia said, her eyes turning like lasers to the platform where kamvasa guests were sitting. “The dishana, the goblets gifted to our first terrin, have been stolen.”
“No, my sister. Not stolen.” Tenzin spoke, and as she did, she raised her hands and lifted Ben with her in a giant whirlwind.
Ben turned to her, shouting over the roar of the wind. “What are you doing?”
“Making an entrance!” She smiled wide and pulled the scarf from her hair, letting the wind whip around her, gathering a storm of flower petals from the crowd. “You have the emerald goblet?”
“Yes.”
“Follow my lead.”
Ben moved with her, adding his own power to hers until the air danced around them. They rose over the crowd and the stage, up and into the air, surrounded by a storm of flowers.
While Tenzin conducted the wind, Ben encased them both in a calm cushion of air.
“Are you ready?”
; Ben pulled the emerald goblet from his jacket. “Ready.”
She turned to him and locked her eyes with his. “Time to use that charm, min shon.”
“Min what?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Ben felt the air easing. They landed on the raised platform, a cascade of flowers still whirling around them. As the blossoms settled, Ben walked over and raised the goblet to Radu. “Not stolen, my friend. Protected.”
Radu’s eyes went wide. Ben could tell he had roughly a thousand questions, but he stepped forward and held out his hand. Ben placed the emerald goblet in Radu’s palm without hesitation, then turned to René.
“Monsieur DuPont?” Ben called. “If you would.”
The vampire rose from his position on the platform and sauntered down the stairs. The crowd cleared for René as he walked up the stairs and across the stage until he reached Kezia.
Without a word, he took Kezia’s hand, bowed deeply, and kissed her knuckles before he drew the citrine goblet from an inner pocket and placed it in her hand.
That left Tenzin alone in the center of the stage, holding the ruby goblet to her chest and staring at Vano, the vampire who had tried to kill her.
Vano stared at Tenzin and he didn’t flinch.
“Shall I tell them, Vano, how I came to have this goblet in my possession?”
The corner of his lips twitched. “Because you are a thief. Hazar!”
Tenzin rose in the air, the goblet in her right hand. Ben rose with her and drew a short sword from his jacket. They hovered over the Poshani, their eyes trained on Vano.
“Long have I honored the Poshani and admired their hospitality,” Tenzin said. “But four days ago, the trailer where I was promised shelter was abandoned, left behind when the kamvasa moved on.”
“Vano told us you had asked to remain,” Kezia said. “He showed us a letter signed by you and Benjamin.”
“It was not written by us,” Ben said. “Your brother lied to you.”
The crowd all started to speak at once. Ben could hear some supportive voices, some who questioned them.
“And then, while I was in my day rest” —Tenzin’s eyes rose to the platform of guests— “Vano’s allies burned my shelter with me inside.”
Every vampire on the platform rose from their seat, looking at the surrounding crowd with suspicion.
The Poshani crowd erupted in shouts until Radu stepped forward and raised a hand. “Brothers and sisters!” He glanced at the vampire guests. “There must be an explanation for this. Patience.” Radu turned to Vano. “Brother, tell me our former guest is mistaken. That there has been a misunderstanding.”
Vano might be a scheming bastard, but he couldn’t hide the truth on his face. Ben watched Kezia’s expression. He glanced at Radu, then at the crowd.
“There is no mistake," Tenzin said. “The ashes left behind prove my tale. Vano attempted to kill a guest of the kamvasa and lied to the Hazar and the darigan about it.”
Vano’s silence told his story.
Ben’s attention was drawn to a disturbance at the back of the crowd. Men were shouting and pushing a man forward. He made his way to the edge of the stage, and his face was pale and drawn with worry.
“Who are you?” Ben asked.
The man glanced at Tenzin, then at Vano. “I am one of those whom Vano ordered to burn the caravan.” He pointed at Vano, who was baring his fangs. “He told us the vampire inside had murdered a Poshani girl. That she was a murderer and the terrin had ordered her death for betraying our hospitality. He showed us a paper signed by all three. That is the only reason we followed his orders.”
Kezia’s face was grim. “The terrin made no such order.”
Radu said, “I know of no murdered girl.”
Tenzin stepped forward and raised her hands. “This is a mystery easily solved. Is anyone missing a daughter?”
There was muttering, but no one spoke.
“A mother?” Tenzin asked. “A sister? A friend? Have any of your women or girls gone missing?” After a long thread of silence, Tenzin turned to Vano. “I would never betray the hospitality of the kamvasa.” She turned to Kezia. “As a daughter of Kali, I swear it.”
Kezia turned to Vano and raised her finger. “You have betrayed us.”
“She’s lying!” Vano yelled. “They are thieves! I would never—”
“Why would she lie?” Radu raised the emerald goblet. “Our dishana have been returned to us. Only yours is withheld. Would thieves do that?” Radu looked at the Hazar. “Take him.”
The crowd erupted in shouts and cries as the Hazar flew toward Vano and grabbed him by the arms and legs before he could fly away.
“You!” Vano screamed at Ben. “I let you live! I showed you mercy—”
“You tried to kill Tenzin.” Ben rose and flew toward Vano. He flung the Hazar away from the vampire with a sweep of his arm; then he grabbed Vano by the throat.
For the first time since he’d turned, Ben gave in to the rage and the power that simmered just below the surface of his tightly controlled exterior.
Squeezing Vano’s throat until the man couldn’t speak, Ben hissed in the vampire’s ear. “You’re so smart, Vano. So tell me what I’m going to do right now.”
Vano attempted to wiggle away, and Ben gripped the side his head and slid his thumb dangerously close to Vano’s left eye socket.
“Give me a reason.” Ben’s voice was so eerily calm he barely recognized himself. “Shall I take an eye for a souvenir? Rip off an ear?”
Vano’s response was only a gurgle.
“I can smell your blood,” Ben said. “I hear it pooling in your mouth. Your lungs. How does it feel to swim in your own blood, you bastard?”
Vano’s blue eyes burned into Ben’s with so much hatred Ben was surprised he didn’t feel a burn.
“If I didn’t trust Radu and Kezia to do something far worse, I would rip your head from your shoulders with my two hands.” He nodded at the hovering Hazar and shoved Vano toward them, but not before he felt the crunch of Vano’s cheekbone as it collapsed under his grip.
Ben landed next to Tenzin on the stage and put an arm around her shoulders. “Radu, my friend, I believe I have met the terms of our arrangement.” He nodded at the emerald goblet in Radu’s hand. “Tenzin and I have protected the sacred goblet of the Poshani terrin.”
And I managed to hide the fact that it was stolen from you to begin with.
Radu’s eyes were glowing with satisfaction. “You have.” He turned to Tenzin. “My dear Tenzin, you are in an unusual position.”
Tenzin smiled a little. “That happens sometimes.”
“You possess the ruby goblet of the Poshani terrin.” Kezia stepped forward. “You are an old friend, known to the kamvasa.” Kezia turned to the crowd. “Tenzin of Penglai, commander of the Altan Wind, daughter of the Kali, protector and bearer of the ruby dishana!”
The Poshani crowd, vampire and human alike, cheered around them. Some began shouting her name. Others threw flowers on the stage.
Tenzin turned to Ben. “This could be a problem.”
“This was your plan, Tiny.” Ben looked around nervously. “Think fast. I don’t think we want to be stuck here for the next hundred years.”
“Ideas?” She glanced around the festival and tried to smile. It looked like she was baring her teeth; unfortunately, that only made the Poshani cheer harder.
“You want ideas to get out of this?” Ben muttered.
“Please.”
He racked his brain furiously for a way out.
Then he had it.
Ben bent and whispered in Tenzin’s ear. She perked up immediately and walked to the edge of the stage and lifted both her hands. The crowd fell quiet.
“Poshaniya,” Tenzin shouted. “You are kind and hospitable. You honor your guests and your history, and I would travel with you for a century if I could. But I am not suited for the honor of serving on the terrin.”
Murmurs of dissatisfaction s
pread like a gathering wave.
“But there is among the kamvasa guests a woman of honor and cunning, a vampire who respects your traditions and has learned your language and your history.” Tenzin turned toward the guests’ platform. “Tatyana Vorona.”
Tatyana stared at Tenzin with an expression Ben couldn’t classify. Her blue eyes were wide but not shocked. She looked at Kezia and Radu, then at the crowd of Poshani gathered around the stage. Then she looked at Oleg and raised a single eyebrow.
No one spoke when Tatyana rose to her feet. She stepped delicately down the stairs, helped by four of the Hazar. She walked through the crowd and stopped to let a woman Ben recognized as one of the camp cooks place a flower crown on her head. They exchanged a few words before Tatyana mounted the stage.
She didn’t look or speak to either Radu or Kezia but turned to the crowd and addressed the Poshani in their own language.
Ben leaned down. “Do you have any idea what she’s saying?”
“Not really.”
“Judging from her tone, I’m going to say she’s willing but wants their approval.”
“She’s smart,” Tenzin said. “She won’t take her power for granted.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” Ben watched Oleg, a vampire known as much for his power and fiery temper as for his cunning and determination. “I think Oleg is in love with her.”
“Do you think so?”
Ben looked at the man watching Tatyana. “Yep. Pretty sure. He probably wouldn’t admit it though.”
“Well, that’s an interesting twist.” Tenzin looked at Oleg. “I don’t see it.”
“Maybe I’m wrong.” He wasn’t wrong.
He turned and saw Radu sidling up to them.
“Did you plan all this, Vecchio?”
“No,” Ben murmured. “But when your brother left us behind and tried to kill Tenzin, we had to improvise.”
“She’s going to accept,” Radu said. “It will be the first time in history that a terrin who is not Poshani holds one of the goblets.”
A roar came from the crowd, and the Poshani started chanting Tatyana’s name.
Ben slapped Radu’s shoulder. “I think they’re okay with it.”
Flowers were thrown toward the stage, and Tenzin walked forward.
Dawn Caravan Page 29