‘I’ll see you soon.’ He planted a kiss on top of her head and walked out of the door before she could change his mind.
Back at the stables, the stable master was leading out Biscuit, already saddled with saddlebags secured in place.
‘Thank you,’ Brogan said.
Gamel nodded as he passed over the reins and then headed down to the paddock.
Biscuit greeted him affectionately and he spent a few moments lavishing her with attention. Then he stole a last look at the valley settlement, trying not to dwell on the fact he might never see the place again.
As he led Biscuit towards the mountain pass, he saw a figure hobbling towards him. He was using a padded stick to aid him, but wasn’t making much progress.
‘Ellas!’ Brogan rushed to join his friend. ‘I’m surprised to see you up and about so soon.’
‘I know; those healers are amazing.’
The two friends embraced and, as they pulled apart, Brogan caught the grimace cross Ellas’ face and realised he was trying to disguise the extent of his pain.
‘You should be in bed.’
‘I had to come and see you before you left.’ Ellas grinned, though there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. ‘I wish I was coming with you.’
Brogan looked at his friend, bandaged and barely able to walk. ‘Stay here and get better. You’ll be needed if I fail.’
‘You won’t fail,’ Ellas said with an assurance Brogan wished he could share.
Looking at his friend more closely, Brogan realised he was nervous about staying alone amongst the exiles. ‘You can trust them. We all have the same goal, peace in Kalaya.’
They shook hands. ‘Go then, before I say anything I’ll regret,’ Ellas said hoarsely.
As Brogan lifted his leg to put his foot in the stirrup, he stopped and turned back to face his friend. ‘I need to ask something of you.’
‘Anything.’
‘Look after Beliss for me, make sure she’s alright.’
‘Of course, until you return.’
Brogan took off the necklace Beliss had made him and passed it to Ellas. ‘And give this to Tei. She still hasn’t talked to me, so this is my promise to her that I will return.’
They shook hands one last time. ‘Good luck, see you in a few weeks,’ Ellas called after him.
Brogan trotted his horse through the settlement. The two mystics sharing his mission were waiting for him at the pass, alongside a cloaked figure.
‘Sentinel.’ He bowed slightly in greeting.
Her smile was brief. ‘Good luck to you and your mission.’ She looked at each of them in turn. ‘I admire your courage, and I thank you for it.’
At her signal, the two mystics mounted their horses.
Brogan looked down at the Sentinel, wondering how she remained so calm. Then she looked up at him and he saw a flicker of anguish cross her expression. He realised that she was hiding her doubts well, and hoped the other two men hadn’t seen her slip.
Callisa closed her eyes and spoke words Brogan didn’t understand. Her strange intonation made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and the air shimmered around him before it seemed to settle back into place.
The Sentinel opened her eyes. ‘This concealing spell will hide you until you reach Newington, then you’re on your own. Rathnor will detect any spells you cast, so avoid using your magic at any cost.’
The two mystics nodded.
‘Our thoughts will be with you, my brave assassins.’ She turned on her heel and headed back across the valley in the direction of the mountains.
Brogan watched her brown-cloaked figure walk into the settlement and lost track of her as though she had disappeared completely.
‘Assassin, I never thought that would be my role when I joined the exiles,’ Sethall said, laughing softly.
Brogan thought of the Sentinel’s betrayal of fear and said nothing.
‘Come on, road brother.’ Calan slapped his friend’s shoulder. ‘It’s time to be on our way.’
Calan, the older of the two mystics, became their unspoken leader and led them through the pass.
Brogan paused to look back at the valley before it disappeared from view. There was no sign of Tei; he had hoped for a last glimpse of her wild auburn hair as she secretly spied on their departure, but, obviously, she’d decided to stay away. Heavy-hearted, he moved to catch up with the others.
‘No second thoughts?’ Calan asked him as he dropped back to ride at Brogan’s side.
Brogan thought of his murdered friends. ‘No second thoughts and no regrets.’
The three of them gripped hands, shaking on their pact.
‘To victory,’ Sethall declared, raising their fists high. Then he broke free and continued up the pass.
Calan watched him and grinned at Brogan. ‘He’s a man of action.’
‘And he’s right,’ Brogan said as he pictured Rathnor’s face. ‘It’s time to put an end to this.’
***
Tei watched from inside Jander’s Tavern as the Sentinel left, and Brogan and his two companions disappeared into the pass. She gulped back her emotions and shifted the pack on her shoulder before picking up the saddle roll at her feet. Waving goodbye to the bar keeper, Tei headed to the market and searched the people on their stalls, looking for the old trader Garrick had liked to use. She spotted his faded blue bandana and headed straight for his stall.
She waited for the customer in front of her to pay for their goods and then reeled off her list of supplies. The old man gathered her requirements and she was soon storing them all in her pack, no questions asked.
With enough food to last her for over a week of travel, she slung her bags across her shoulders and donned her hood as she headed for the stables.
Tei tensed as she spotted someone waiting in the shadows of the stable doors.
She flicked back her hood. ‘Ellas, what are you doing out of bed?’ She rushed forward and took his arm as he swayed unsteadily on his feet. She helped him sit on the tree stump that propped open the stable door, and noticed as she did his pale, sweat-covered brow.
They stared at each other uncertainly. She’d only met Ellas when he’d arrived, half-conscious and delirious with pain. There’d been no time for introductions, she’d just watched as Brogan and Mara had rushed him off to join the other healers.
‘It’s good to meet you, Tei.’ He held out his hand in greeting.
She smiled. ‘It’s nice to meet you properly. Brogan was really worried about you, but I’m glad to see the healers were able to help you.’
‘I can’t begin to understand what they did; but I’m grateful to be alive and walking again.’
‘What are you doing here? Surely you don’t plan to go for a ride in your condition?’
He patted his leg and grinned. ‘No, but when I saw a red-haired lady lurking around earlier watching Brogan, I assumed it was you. From what Brogan told me about you yesterday, I guessed you’d be plotting to follow him.’
‘Don’t try and stop me.’
Ellas looked down at the bandaged leg that wouldn’t even support his weight. ‘I’m hardly in a position to try anything. But Brogan wants you to stay here where it’s safe.’
‘I can’t.’ Tei hung her head and walked into the stables. ‘I need to be there for him, and if he fails, I’ll avenge him.’
Ellas didn’t respond but she felt him watching her the whole time she saddled her horse. Starflower was in good spirits; Tei wished she could share the mare’s enthusiasm.
When she was done, she headed back to the stable entrance where Ellas still rested.
The assemblyman held her gaze. ‘If I can’t sway you from this course, let me say one thing.’
She nodded for him to continue.
‘Rathnor is a clever man; never underestimate his cunning.’
‘I promise I’ll be careful.’ She led Starflower outside and looked back at Ellas as he hobbled after her.
‘Brogan wanted you to have this
, his way of promising he’ll come back to you.’
As Tei’s hand closed over the smooth stones of the necklace, her skin prickled. She felt the tiny flicker of Beliss’ magic trapped within the stones and realised it was a crudely cast protection ward. Her pulse quickened; Brogan was riding into enemy territory without the one thing that had protected him from Rathnor in the past. She hugged the necklace to her chest and cursed Brogan under her breath.
‘Can I not persuade you to reconsider?’ Ellas asked.
She looked down at the necklace as she shook her head. ‘No, Brogan needs me.’
‘He’s a lucky man.’
‘A stupid one, more like,’ Tei said over her shoulder as she led Starflower into the valley. It was becoming busy with people, but Tei pulled on her hood and walked with her head down through the milling crowd.
The guards at the pass watched her approach and barred her passage, waiting expectantly for an explanation.
‘Have my group already left?’ She smiled sweetly at the two men. ‘Please don’t tell me I’m late, I’ll be in so much trouble.’
One of the men took pity on her. ‘They left an hour ago. If you hurry, you’ll catch them.’
Gushing with thanks, Tei mounted up and headed into the pass. She kept a steady pace until the guards were out of sight, then she dropped back to a slow walk, not wanting to close the gap between herself and the others.
Leaving Starflower to guide their passage through the rocky pass, Tei reached out to Rike.
You’re going after him, her friend greeted her.
Was there ever any doubt?
No, I suppose not. Be careful. We don’t want to see you here anytime soon.
Tei gulped. Rike, I need you to promise me something.
Of course, anything.
If Brogan is killed... promise me Rathnor won’t get his soul.
You can count on us.
Tei knew she could, but it didn’t make her any happier as she continued to follow Brogan’s trail out of Turrak.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brogan lay on his back, winded.
Calan towered over him, grinning. ‘You can’t seem to stay on your feet, can you?’ he said as he pulled Brogan to standing.
‘I’ve been floored more times than I’d like to count this week.’ Brogan massaged his back and groaned.
‘Maybe you’ve taken enough punishment for today then.’ Calan put away their practice swords and they sat by the fire.
Sethall dished out bowls of stew. Brogan stared into the forest where they camped and wondered how well the Sentinel’s concealing spell really worked; what if guards blundered across their camp?
‘Your training has gone well this week,’ Calan said through a mouthful of salted beef stew. ‘I’d say you were shaping up to be a competent assassin.’
Brogan scraped his spoon around his bowl. ‘I still wish we had more time to prepare.’
‘But that also gives you too much time to think. It’s better to get to Newington and get the deed done. Have you thought any more about possible ambush points?’
Brogan dumped his empty bowl on the ground and looked at Calan. ‘During the day he likes to surround himself with lackeys, they make him feel important. Then there are the odd midnight meetings when he travels the streets alone, but we’re not likely to get lucky enough to stumble on one of those. Then there’s his house...’
Calan raised his eyebrows. ‘Go on.’
‘Rathnor has the largest house in Newington. It’s fenced in and guarded at all times.’
‘That’s a bit over the top, isn’t it?’ Sethall said. ‘I bet the rest of the Assembly don’t have massive houses and guards.’
Brogan laughed. ‘Rathnor seems to believe he’s something special, and has somehow duped the rest of the Assembly into agreeing with him. I never could grasp how or why.’
‘But would you say the house is our best chance at catching him unawares?’ Calan asked.
‘I suppose so.’
Sethall looked between them. ‘We should be close enough. I’ll check it out.’
‘I don’t know how you plan to do that, but it’s dangerous,’ Brogan said.
Sethall looked at Calan. ‘I know how to stay hidden. I used to do it as a child and no one ever caught me.’
‘Rathnor isn’t just anyone.’
‘Brogan, stop worrying, it’ll be fine.’
Sethall lay down, closed his eyes and appeared to fall asleep.
‘Rathnor is a demented killer. He shouldn’t be doing this,’ Brogan said, looking at the young mystic.
Calan sighed. ‘You can’t reason with him when he gets an idea in his head.’
They tried to pass the time playing cards, but Brogan couldn’t concentrate and Calan wasn’t doing much better.
At last, Sethall sat up, making them both jump. ‘The vain bastard has a statue of himself in that strange garden of his. He’s sitting out there in the dark right now. Looks like he’s meditating.’
‘He could have spotted you; I shouldn’t have allowed you to jeopardise the whole mission.’ Calan shook his head. ‘No more stupid risks, Seth.’
‘No need.’ Sethall lay back and folded his hands behind his head. He looked at them both with a smug grin. ‘I saw everything I needed to see. We’ll ambush him in his garden. There’s lots of shrubs and trees we can use as cover.’
Brogan sighed. ‘So that leaves us with the small matter of getting past the guards to worry about then.’
Sethall’s grin widened. ‘What’s life without a little risk?’
***
‘Throat, guts, groin, eye, ear, heart, temple...’ Calan recited as he led Brogan through all the points for a quick kill. ‘Slash, stab, throw, thrust.’
Brogan spoke each kill point in his mind as he wielded the dagger and ran through the now familiar routine. He must have performed it hundreds of times in the last few days and his movements flowed fluidly into each other.
He stopped as Calan called time and bent over double to catch his breath.
‘You’ll have to choose the best option to kill him depending on the circumstances,’ Calan said, sheathing his dagger.
Brogan twirled his own weapon in his hand, watching moonlight reflecting off the sharpened blade. ‘If it comes to that.’ He looked back at the mystic and met his gaze across the fire.
‘We must be prepared for the worst, that’s what we’re here for.’ Calan was looking at their quiet companion as he spoke.
Sethall seemed unusually subdued as he stirred the pot of stew over the flames. The fire’s glow reflected the younger mystic’s expression, and Brogan wondered if Sethall was feeling out of his depth.
Calan settled down by the fire and pulled out his dagger, working the blade across a whetstone. ‘I want you to try and remember all we’ve taught you this week, though when the time comes, you’ll need to free your mind of all thought and let your subconscious take charge.’ Calan smiled up at him. ‘You can do this, Brogan. I know you can.’
Brogan practised slicing the air with his dagger, the weight of it comfortable in his hand, its feel now familiar and reassuring. The assassin’s tool still needed practice, but the thought of killing Rathnor was enough to spur on his efforts.
‘Dinner’s ready,’ Sethall said, handing out bowls of stew.
Brogan moved closer to the fire and savoured its warmth. Tomorrow there would be no comforting light; Newington awaited them.
After the meal, Sethall handed him a skin of liquor. ‘A few sips won’t hurt us,’ he said with a wink.
Brogan drank a swig of the brew and choked on the fiery liquid. ‘That depends what you define as hurt.’ Brogan coughed and quickly offered the skin to Calan.
The mystic shook his head. ‘Someone needs to stay focused around here.’ His stern look dissolved. ‘And I don’t touch the stuff Sethall’s grandfather brews; it’s lethal.’
Brogan and Sethall passed the skin between them, and Brogan soon found the liquor loosen
ing his tongue.
‘I’ve wanted to ask what made you both agree to this mission.’ Brogan looked between the two mystics.
Calan looked thoughtfully into the fire, before finally facing Brogan. ‘Revenge,’ he said, and then took a stick and poked at the flames.
They watched the sparks dislodge and drift into the night sky, waiting for him to continue.
‘A year ago, Masked Riders killed my wife. When the Sentinel offered a chance to get revenge, I wasn’t about to let it pass.’
Calan’s admission hung heavy in the air. Sethall reached over and handed the mystic the skin of liquor. This time Calan accepted and raised it skyward. ‘Nula, my love, a toast to you.’
A painful silence followed, before Sethall cleared his throat. ‘Benon was my best friend. I figured if he believed in this mission enough to give up his life, then I should be man enough to follow his example.’
‘You’re both brave men,’ Brogan said.
‘Well, we’re either brave, mad or stupid, take your pick.’ Sethall grinned.
‘Whatever the reasons, we’re here now and we have to find a way to make our mission work,’ Calan said, becoming serious again.
The younger mystic grimaced. ‘Oh no, he wants to talk tactics again.’
Brogan laughed to himself, realising he was growing fond of his companions. Then he felt a pang of nerves, remembering their roles as decoys. He hoped they would all return to Turrak together, but they were up against Rathnor and, if nothing else, the Assembly leader was unpredictable.
Calan frowned at Sethall and then cleared his throat. ‘So we’ll go in ahead of Brogan and clear the way...’
***
‘How are my Spirit Guides?’ Callisa asked.
Garrick glanced at Rike, who shrugged in answer. Rike was having another bad day, not that the mystic would ever admit such a thing to anyone, especially not the Sentinel.
‘Things are quiet here,’ Garrick said when it was clear Rike wouldn’t answer. ‘No deaths to report or souls to rescue. Which I’m glad about of course, but it makes me nervous.’
Callisa looked distracted as she traced her hand across a tree trunk. It was one of the oldest on the island and its aura was a pure, blinding white. It responded to her touch and flared even brighter.
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