Yes, and now you need to sleep, Farrell. Your body is very weak and you must recover.
I want to see my wife.
She knows you’re alive; that’s what matters. Now sleep. He pulsed out, pushing Farrell away.
Farrell tumbled into his body and an all-consuming weariness came over him. Instantly, he fell asleep.
***
The wind tossed Tei’s hair back and her cloak streamed out behind her. As they rushed towards the fence, Starflower turned her head almost too late. The horse swerved and raced back across the field, and Tei whooped at the filly’s nerve.
When she finally pulled up on the reins and drew them to a halt, Starflower’s nostrils were flaring. Tei panted with exhilaration as she patted the neck of her horse. ‘Thank you, that’s just what I needed.’
Jumping from the saddle, she led the filly back to the paddock where the other horses grazed. Conall bounded over to them. ‘I can unsaddle Starflower for you, Tei.’
‘Thank you, Conall, but...’ she paused seeing the gathering at the head of the pass over Conall’s shoulder. She frowned as she saw Callisa’s distinctive long black hair and flowing blue dress whipped by the breeze.
Conall glanced back and pointed at the crowd. ‘We received orders last night to get the horses ready for early this morning. The horse-master wasn’t pleased at the short notice. He was in a black mood when I left him at the stables.’
Tei nodded, wondering if this was the reason she hadn’t managed to get an audience with Callisa the previous day.
She counted the horses and riders; three groups of four. The crowd was growing quickly but she couldn’t see any Elders among them. Hafender stood alongside Callisa, dwarfing her petite frame.
‘Thanks, Conall, I’ll see you later.’ She handed the reins to him and hurried towards the pass.
She joined the back of the group and watched as Hafender walked amongst the riders and spoke with each person, while Callisa was full of regal smiles until she spotted Tei.
Tei’s good mood evaporated. What’s going on? Why didn’t you ask me to join you?
It was a rush decision, we had to act before the Elders tried to stop our peace envoys from leaving. Callisa offered an apologetic shrug.
You mean they don’t know about this?
I’m sure they do now. But they wouldn’t have given their permission.
What about Thal?
He elected not to be told anything seeing as I would do what I wanted without his advice.
Don’t you think I should have been helping you with a decision like this?
Callisa didn’t reply as the first team of handpicked mystics and protectors headed down the pass.
‘Go spread the word of the new Sentinel out into Kalaya,’ Hafender called after them. Then he turned back to the other two groups. ‘Most will have realised the magic is being restored, but our supporters who aren’t magically gifted and those with family in Turrak will welcome your news.’
Tei saw two young men she recognised, Jernath and Beneger. The mystic and protector who’d had their initiation on the same day as she had were paired with two men from Hafender’s team.
‘Look after the youngsters, Makner.’ Hafender patted the grey-bearded mystic on the back.
Makner mounted his horse and then grinned down at his captain. ‘I’ll teach them everything I know.’
The two men chuckled and then Makner’s group headed down the pass. The last group followed behind them, all in good spirits despite the increasingly hostile land they were about to travel through. With the Assembly’s new law, any mystic found in Kalaya could face a death sentence. But the mood in Turrak was still one of celebration and it seemed to have dulled people’s fears.
Come and see me later, once the Elders have finished with me, Callisa whispered into Tei’s mind as she headed back towards the mountains.
Tei huffed as she turned away, but then she spotted Mara standing on the side-lines, looking unhappy. She rushed over to her friend and took her arm. ‘It’s good to see you up and about.’
A headache had kept her confined to her bed all the previous day; at least that was the excuse Mara had given Tei when she’d visited.
Mara gave her a tired smile. ‘Hello, Tei.’
‘Are you feeling any better?’
She nodded and then led Tei away from the rest of the people.
‘How’s life as Confidante?’ Mara asked, attempting to sound bright but failing badly.
‘If you consider that I didn’t know anything about today’s mission, it’s not been great so far.’
Mara looked at her hands. She twirled the ring on her finger - the wedding ring Rike hadn’t had the chance to give her. ‘I overheard Hafender talking to the stable master about it last night when I went to get some air. I visited the Sentinel this morning and asked if I could tag on to one of the groups so I could go and visit my family. I wanted to tell them about Garrick and...’ she touched her stomach briefly. ‘The Sentinel said it wasn’t safe for me to travel.’
‘And she’s right; you shouldn’t be risking yourself while the Assembly are still a threat.’
Mara didn’t answer as they walked back to her small home in silence. The pots of herbs outside were straggly and unkempt. And where before there would have been cooking smells drifting from her kitchen, the stale smell of wood-smoke was a reminder of the emptiness in their lives without Rike and Garrick.
They both hesitated at the door.
Tei coughed to clear her throat. Then she grasped Mara’s arm. ‘I can pass on a message to them any time you want, you just have to ask.’
Her friend bit her lip and nodded jerkily as she pulled away. With her hair hanging loose to cover her face, she stepped inside and stood on the threshold, gripping the doorframe for support. She sucked in a breath, still not turning to face Tei. ‘I’d invite you in, but I’m really tired.’
Tei clasped her hands at her sides. ‘Get some rest, and we’ll catch up soon.’
She watched Mara shut the door, wishing she could help her friend overcome her terrible sadness. Grief had opened such a big hole in both their lives, it was impossible to find the words to bridge the void.
As Tei headed back into the valley settlement, with no direction or purpose, her thoughts drifted to her old friends back in Seatown. She would love to see Saska again. Did she marry her childhood sweetheart, Assis, and escape her father’s bakery? Or was Saska still waiting for the apprentice carpenter to pluck up the courage to ask her father?
Tei understood Mara’s need to visit home and promised herself one day she would go back to Seatown, even if it meant leaving the safety of Turrak.
***
‘Sign it and this will all be over,’ Nadan said, waving the scroll in the air.
The man spat out blood. ‘Never!’
The two Masked Riders holding his arms tightened their hold and a third punched him in the stomach. He doubled over, but they forced him upright again. Another blow caught him in the ribs, swiftly followed by a third punch. Even with the breath knocked from his body, he was still defiant.
His daughter sobbed louder. The mother smothered the child against her skirt, hiding her from the vicious eyes of Nadan’s men.
Nadan could sense the bloodlust in them, the need to hurt and dominate.
One man took a step towards the cowering pair. ‘I’ll shut her up.’
Nadan blocked his path. ‘No, he signs and we leave them be.’
He looked at their victim; one eye was swollen shut, both lips were split and his nose was clearly broken, but despite the pain, he refused to submit.
Nadan sighed. ‘Just sign it and we’ll leave your family alone, I promise.’
The man looked at his family, giving nothing away.
‘Loyalty will only bring you pain and suffering,’ Nadan said sadly, admiring the man’s brave stupidity as the Masked Riders shoved him on the floor and kicked him repeatedly.
‘Leave him alone,’ the wife cried
, her voice filled with horror.
Nadan waded in to stop them. ‘He can’t sign it if he’s dead, you idiots.’
‘Maybe we should get her to sign.’ Nadan’s sergeant leered and took a step towards the terrified woman. ‘No one said we couldn’t have a little fun.’
Nadan dropped the scroll beside the man and held his gaze. ‘Sign it and we’ll leave now, delay and you know what will happen.’
The man glanced across at his wife and daughter, and the killer edging towards them. ‘I’ll sign.’
Nadan offered him the quill. He took it in his shaking fist and scribbled his name at the bottom of the declaration.
Nadan blew on the ink, before rolling up the scroll and storing it in his pocket. ‘You could have saved yourself a lot of pain if you’d signed it in the beginning.’
‘You got what you wanted; now get out of my home.’
Nadan nodded, impressed by the man’s courage.
His sergeant sneered down at the man. ‘You should have held out a bit longer, I was looking forward to starting on your wife.’ He gave him a parting kick in the stomach and then stalked outside.
Nadan waited for the rest of the men to file out the door before he turned back to the family.
The wife and daughter had rushed over to the barely conscious man. His wife stroked his hair back and tried to staunch the blood flowing from his nose with her apron.
The girl reached out for her father.
‘Not now, Beliss,’ he said, through a mouthful of blood.
As he watched the family’s closeness, Nadan felt a stabbing sensation in his head. Near blinded by the pain, he stumbled outside and sucked in some deep breaths until the moment passed. Then, angry with himself, he clenched his fists and looked around scowling, but his men were already galloping away from the farm.
Nadan took one last look at the farmhouse as he patted the scroll in his pocket. Sometimes he hated following orders, but it was the only life he knew. Or at least the only life he remembered.
Chapter Two
Farrell forced his eyes open. His vision blurred in the light and all he could see were the hazy outlines of shapes. A raging thirst consumed him. He tried to talk but no words formed in his dry mouth.
He heard a gasp to his left and then a shadow fell across him. He looked up into Leila’s face, her features coming into focus as she bent over him. One of her tears fell warm against his cheek.
‘Farrell!’ She laughed and cried at the same time, and smothered him with kisses.
‘Leila.’
She moved out of sight and then he felt a cup pressed gently to his lips. He drank the trickle of water, but she only allowed him a few sips. He wet his lips and swallowed to ease his parched throat. ‘How long?’ he asked, his voice still barely above a whisper.
‘You were attacked four days ago. I was so scared I’d lost you.’
She supported his head and allowed him a few more sips of water.
‘Thank you.’ He lifted his hand, but only had the strength to trace his fingers down her cheek.
‘I dreamt of my father...’
Leila patted a cool flannel against his forehead. ‘Darling, you’re too weak for this; we can talk more when you’re stronger.’
Leila’s face blurred in and out of focus, but then the world went black and sleep stole over him.
When he woke again, it seemed darker. As he stirred, he sensed movement to his left.
Allisus stood at his bedside. ‘Hello, Commander.’
‘Allisus.’ He struggled to form the word.
The old man helped him drink. This time he managed half a cup without needing a break. He struggled into a sitting position and Allisus propped some extra pillows behind him.
‘Where’s Leila?’
‘She’s sleeping by the fire. I can wake her, but she’s barely slept since you were attacked.’
‘No, leave her. She has to think of the baby.’
Allisus nodded. ‘She won’t be happy; I had strict instructions to wake her if you stirred.’
‘It’s best she sleeps.’
Allisus drew up a chair and sat at Farrell’s bedside. Farrell studied the old man who was staring down into his lap.
‘So did they catch the attackers?’
Allisus coughed. ‘No, Vikks and the others gave chase, but it was dark and he said they ended up chasing their own shadows. I’m still making enquires. Don’t worry, I’ll find out who was responsible.’
‘Do you think Cyris or the council were behind it?’ Farrell asked, voicing the uncomfortable suspicion. He didn’t want to believe they could organise such a dirty, treacherous act, but he was short of other enemies on their small island.
‘Let’s deal with that when you’re recovered.’ Allisus handed Farrell a bowl of thick broth and, while the commander ate, he filled him in on news of the fleet and the progress Captain Roenda was making. ‘The Huntress will soon be manned and ready for her maiden voyage.’
‘That’s good news. I’m glad you’ve been able to oversee the arrangements.’
‘The men will all be happier when you return, Commander. You’ve been missed.’
Farrell nodded and swallowed back unexpected emotion.
The food and the warmth of the fire took effect and he felt the weight of sleep drag at his eyelids.
Allisus helped him lay back and then slipped from the room.
Farrell dreamt of a grey, mist-shrouded landscape. His father drifted through the fog and Farrell chased after his spirit, but Fynnock remained out of reach.
***
Brogan watched Rathnor from the opposite side of the Assembly Hall. It had been a week since the Assemblyman’s unexplained collapse. Rathnor dismissed any hint of concern and now the incident seemed forgotten by everyone, except Brogan.
Rathnor had been unapproachable all week. He grumbled and barked orders, showing a complete lack of control that was inappropriate for the self-appointed leader of the Assembly.
Luth, on the other hand, had been in high spirits. Brogan had tried to find out why, but couldn’t determine a reason for Luth’s good humour. He wondered if whatever had left Rathnor in such a foul mood was the same thing that had lifted the old man’s spirits.
Rathnor looked bored as Luth read out the weekly reports.
‘...the extra crops planted are growing well and if they hold without pest or disease could provide our best yield in a few years.’
Brogan nodded to himself as Luth finished reading and shuffled the reports into a tidy pile. The improving reports coming in were a reason to celebrate, though no one else seemed as enthused by the prospect of a better harvest. He wondered how his own crops were coming along but his farmhand, Drago, hadn’t written to him recently with news.
He remembered that tomorrow was Beliss’ birthday. He should have arranged to visit Drago’s daughter, but he’d felt the watchful eye of Rathnor’s spies. Imagined or not, he wasn’t willing to endanger his friends, not while Ellas’ words still echoed in his head. ‘Sell the farm... it could end up costing you your life.’
The ominous words stayed with him as the Assembly meeting adjourned for lunch. As he wasn’t hungry, Brogan strolled through the town and tried to clear his head. Today was a rest day, so the market was empty of traders and the main square was quiet. The ugly hangman’s structure remained at the centre, though thankfully no bodies hung from the ropes. No one had faced trial since the exiles’ daring rescue of the prisoners. He remembered the exiles galloping away victorious, and the golden-haired warrior swatting aside the town guard, while Rathnor watched on helplessly.
Soon after that, Tei had appeared in his life and reinforced his determination to continue his father’s work and save the exiles from Rathnor’s plotting.
Brogan sighed as he thought of all that had happened in the months since he’d been forced to leave his farm and take over his father’s position on the Assembly. Maybe it was time to act on Ellas’ advice and sign the farm over to Drago and hi
s wife, Verda. If he had no other commitments he could focus on stopping Rathnor and overturning the laws he’d put in place. There was still a chance to help those with magic, and maybe one day see Tei again. Brogan resolved to talk to Luth about his plans.
He headed back through the square but stopped short when he saw Rathnor talking with lawman Jarance. They were huddled together in the doorway of the guardhouse.
Brogan hung back and watched Rathnor saunter off towards the Assembly Hall. A minute later, Jarance strode from the guardhouse looking purposeful. He joined a group of town guards and led the way as they rode south from town.
He wondered what Rathnor was up to now. Pushing the thought aside, he walked back to the Assembly Hall more determined than ever to speak with Luth about the deeds to his farm.
***
Farrell roused to the sound of voices and opened his eyes. The door burst open and Fynn came bounding in, followed by Thorn. Both boy and hound clambered onto the bed. Farrell sat up and reached forward to ruffle Fynn’s curls. ‘It’s good to see you, son.’ He pulled Fynn into a hug; he smelt of the outside and his hair was damp with sea mist.
Thorn climbed over them both so he could lick Farrell’s face. Farrell patted the hound’s shaggy head and rubbed him between the ears. ‘I’ve missed you too, boy.’
The bandage on his arm was tight and restricted his movement, while the stitches in his lower back and hip pulled at his skin, but he ignored the discomfort as he moved his pillows and switched position so he could look at his son. ‘Have you been a good boy, Captain?’
‘Yes, Daddy. I told mummy you were safe, but she kept crying.’
‘She doesn’t see things like we do, son. For now, this has to be our secret. Are you good at keeping secrets?’
He nodded earnestly. ‘A secret like the man.’
Farrell frowned. ‘What man?’
‘The man you talk to.’ Fynn looked at the ceiling, as though recalling a memory. ‘He told me you were being attacked so I told Mummy. She didn’t believe me until Thorn scratched the door and growled.’
The Sentinel's Reign Page 2