by Ian Gregoire
“Sweetheart, I wasn’t making a joke.”
“Nor was I,” Kayden retorted with a scowl. “And it’s Kayden, not sweetheart.”
The expression on Dashina’s face softened then she glanced down at the hardwood floor with a sigh. Looking back up, she said contritely, “Forgive me for being short with you, sweet—” She caught herself just in time. “I mean, Kayden.” The concern in her eyes was impossible to ignore. “But you picked a bad day to check into the inn. I strongly advise you to leave at once and don’t look back until you are well clear of the province.”
A creaky floorboard forestalled Kayden’s response, prompting her to peer back over her shoulder. Tasarik had arrived in the corridor and was strolling towards her.
“Hey, Ma!” he called out. “Pa needs another pair of hands behind the counter. He said I should help our guest check into her room.”
“Remember what I said,” whispered Dashina.
It was clear to Kayden that the innkeeper’s wife wanted to say more—to elaborate on her warning—but she reluctantly held her tongue as she departed towards her son. Whatever it was Dashina was concerned about, Kayden assumed it was due to her worries about the kind of unwanted attention a young woman travelling alone might attract. A wry smile tugged the corners of her mouth. If only Dashina knew who she was talking to. She’d be more concerned for the safety of anyone stupid enough to get on the bad side of the most powerful apprentice of the Order.
Tasarik stepped past Kayden and reached for the handle of the door before them. As his hand gripped the knob he looked questioningly at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a room closer to the stairs?”
“This room will be fine,” she replied. “You were very quick grooming and feeding my horse.” Her accusatory tone was conspicuously measured. If he thought he could take her money then not provide the service she paid for, he would regret it.
“Branit, the stable-hand, takes care of all that stuff.” With that, Tasarik pushed open the door and hurriedly entered the dim room while Kayden followed suit. He promptly strolled to the mantelpiece where he picked up a tinderbox.
“Give me a moment to light all the lamps,” he called over his shoulder, while Kayden set down her burlap sacks at the foot of the bed.
Skirting casually around the single bed, Kayden ambled to the north facing window to peer outside while waiting for Tasarik to finish lighting the oil lamps. She noted occasional spots of rain, threatening a wet night. It was a timely reminder of why she had made the detour to Azderan in the first place, rather than making a futile attempt to reach her intended destination before sunset. Nagornorak would still be waiting for her the following day, so the delay to her journey was a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.
“So!” said Tasarik to snap Kayden out of her thoughts. He was standing a few paces behind her, having finished lighting the room. “If you’re staying for just the one night, two gold ranids will cover the cost of the room plus your supper this evening, and breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“That’s acceptable,” Kayden replied, stepping away from the window to join Tasarik. She reached beneath her tabard to bring out her purse again and proceeded to hand over the gold coins.
“Thank you, kindly,” he replied. He pocketed the coins then pulled a collection of keys from his belt. “Let me give you the key to the room,” he continued, struggling to remove a single key from the circular band of metal. “Whenever you’re ready to eat just head downstairs to the saloon; hot food will continue to be served until ten o’clock.” At last he was able to hand over the key to the room.
Kayden was just about to inquire what ten o’clock meant when she recalled it was the equivalent of Twenty-Second Hour back in the Nine Kingdoms. She noticed a change in the expression on Tasarik’s face and was confused by it. “What is it?” she demanded to know. Surely he didn’t expect a tip for simply handing over the key to the room?
“Nothing! It’s just...” He hesitated. “You’re very beautiful… stunningly so.” Without waiting for a response Tasarik promptly marched to the door and vacated the room, leaving Kayden alone.
Well that was the strangest compliment she’d ever received for her looks, Kayden thought. She was accustomed to being told she was beautiful, she had heard it numerous times over the years, but this was the first time in her life someone had made it sound like a bad thing. She let out a sigh, deciding not to dwell on it. Whatever was bothering Tasarik and the townsfolk of Azderan was none of her business, and when she departed the town in the morning she wouldn’t give it another thought.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Unfinished Business
Kayden arrived downstairs in the saloon, eager to sate her hunger; she hadn’t had a bite to eat since morning. Despite the throng of patrons, she was able to pick out a couple of empty tables. She ambled to the one in the corner, furthest away from the entrance. Taking a seat, she glanced towards the serving counter, hoping to gain Dashina’s attention. There was something about the demeanour of the innkeeper’s wife nagging away at the back of her mind.
Varik, the innkeeper, was standing at Kayden’s table before she could even lay eyes on his wife. Apparently, being rotund wasn’t as big an impediment to being fleet of foot as she assumed, though it certainly obscured her view of the counter.
“What can I get you, miss? I can recommend—”
“You can ask your wife to serve me,” she interrupted, trying to peer around him, “if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Uh… is there any particular reason why you need to be served by my wife?”
Peering up at him, she replied, “Do I need a particular reason?”
Kayden was pleased the innkeeper recognised a rhetorical question when he heard one. He took the hint and promptly departed, heading back towards the serving counter where he had a brief exchange of words with his spouse. Moments later, a confused-looking Dashina ambled from around the counter and approached Kayden’s table huddled away in the corner.
“Are you ready to order, sweetheart?” she inquired, stopping beside the table. “I mean, Kayden.”
“Yes, thank you. What do you recommend?” Kayden gazed fixedly up at the innkeeper’s wife, wondering if the woman would voluntarily open up about the warning she had given earlier.
“Well, the beef casserole has gone down well this evening,” offered Dashina.
“Then that is what I’d like to order. And if you have any tea, could you have a pot brewed? Preferably camomile, if you’ve got it.”
“Very well. Anything else?”
“Yes,” she replied simply. “Could you serve enough for two people? I’d like you to join me.” And I won’t take no for an answer.
Dashina silently held Kayden’s gaze, seemingly evaluating the wisdom of agreeing to the request. She let out a resigned sigh. “I think that can be arranged.” With that she stepped away, charting a course through the saloon back to the serving counter.
While she waited, Kayden’s thoughts drifted to the progress made on her one-woman mission so far. The eighth day of her journey was reaching an end, and assuming her deception had not yet been discovered back at Antaris, she had enough of a head start to complete the task in hand before anyone could interfere. Nagornorak was the last major Anzarmenian city she would travel through before she could begin scouring the southernmost territories of the realm in search of the cult that had formed around the man now calling himself Master Yosarian. Once she found her target, she would capture him and deliver him to the authorities in the Kingdom of Shintana to face justice. When it was done, she would be able to step out of the shadow of her master, earning the respect of those who questioned her worthiness to become a Sanatsai of the Order in her own right.
Dashina’s return intruded upon her ruminations when she trundled back to the table carrying a tray laden with a teapot, two mugs and a jar of honey. “My son will bring over the food in just a moment,” she announced, setting the tray down on the table before sitting across
from Kayden. “Help yourself to some tea, it’s fennel not camomile, I hope that’s all right.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” she replied, reaching for one of the mugs. “I like to try new things.” She picked up the teapot and poured the steaming infusion into her cup.
“Should I ask why you wanted me to join you?” Dashina inquired.
Stirring a couple of teaspoons of honey into her fennel tea, Kayden looked up at the woman seated across the table. “The moment I rode into town this evening I noticed a tension in the air,” she said, “and my presence seems to have exacerbated it.”
Noting the quick glance Dashina cast towards the serving counter from where her spouse was watching intently, it was obvious that the wife had been warned against saying anything by her husband.
“Perhaps you shouldn’t read anything into it,” remarked Dashina evasively. “We’re just not used to foreigners from as far afield as you passing through our town. I don’t think anyone here has ever seen a Vaidasovian woman before; I assume that’s what you are, from your appearance.”
While the woman’s words were likely true, Kayden knew Dashina wasn’t being entirely forthcoming. Less than quarter of an hour ago Dashina was imploring her to leave town immediately. If there was a more curious likely reaction to seeing someone of Vaidasovian ancestry for the first time, Kayden couldn’t think of it.
“I guess it’s true what they say,” continued Dashina, wistfully. “Where you’re from really is home to the most beautiful women in the world.”
“I’ve never set foot anywhere in Vaidasovia, so I’m unable to comment about what you may have heard,” retorted Kayden. “Though my parents are, or were, from Zenosha, I was actually born elsewhere, and I’m sure Vaidasovian women are no more or less beautiful than women from any other region of the world.”
Again, it seemed odd to Kayden that her looks were somehow viewed as a negative, and she wanted to know why. There was obviously something very wrong in Azderan and she couldn’t for the life of her work out what her appearance had to do with it. Whatever was going on, she had no intention of allowing Dashina to simply fob her off.
“Look, Dashina—” she halted, remembering they hadn’t officially been introduced. “May I call you Dashina?” She took the non-committal expression on the woman’s face as permission to do so. “Dashina, I’m not an idiot. I recognise fear when I see it. All the townsfolk of Azderan seem to be holding their breath, waiting for something bad to happen. At the same time, I can’t help but get the feeling that my presence has disturbed some people… including you.”
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Tasarik carrying a tray laden with food. Without a word, he set down a bowl of beef casserole in front of each woman, then a small wooden basket containing four small bread rolls. He gave his mother a concerned look before stepping away from the table.
Ignoring the bowl in front of her, in spite of the delicious smell wafting up from it, Kayden quickly resumed the talk. “You urged me to leave town earlier,” she said, “which tells me you’re worried about my safety. First of all, let me assure you of this: I am more than capable of protecting myself. Second, whatever it is you and the rest of the town are afraid of, if you tell me what it is I maybe able to help.”
The plea provoked a spontaneous outburst of half-hearted laughter from Dashina. It was stifled quickly but Kayden wasn’t amused. “I don’t appreciate being laughed at,” she said pointedly.
“Sweetheart, you have no idea what you have walked into by coming here, and… you think you can help?” The bitterness in Dashina’s voice was unmistakable. “If you know what’s good for you,” she continued, “you’ll get your pretty behind out of town, now, while you still can. If you are still here tomorrow you’ll only have yourself to blame for what happens when they lay eyes on you.”
At last, a breakthrough, thought Kayden, as the agitated woman attempted to stand up and leave the table. With lightning fast reflexes she reached across the table, grabbing hold of Dashina’s hand, urging her to retake her seat with a silent look.
“Dashina, if you want to persuade me to leave Azderan before I’m good and ready, perhaps you should tell me who it is I’m supposed to be afraid of?”
For a protracted moment Dashina stared down at her. Finally, she opted to sit back down prompting the younger woman to release her hand.
“Good!” declared Kayden, no hint of triumph in her voice. She pulled her bowl of casserole forward. “While we eat, why don’t you tell me everything? Starting with why you said I picked a bad time to check into the inn.”
Kayden ate a spoonful of her meal while Dashina proceeded to narrate the tale of the ten-month long predicament of Azderan. The province in which the town was situated had, to all intents and purposes, fallen outside government control, having been usurped by a large group of ruthless bandits who’d subsequently turned the province into their very own fiefdom. During this time, every second weekend the towns and villages of the province were required to pay tribute to their new overlords. Dashina explained that Kayden’s arrival in Azderan was poorly timed because it coincided with a weekend in which tribute was due to be paid. The collectors had not shown up as expected that morning, presumably because of poor weather conditions, though they were certain to arrive the following morning to receive the bi-weekly tribute.
As for why this was bad news for Kayden, the men who came to collect tribute didn’t always just take the money and goods the townsfolk were required to hand over. All too frequently, the bandits would loiter in town for a couple of hours to satisfy their lust with any of the womenfolk unfortunate enough to catch their eye. In the early days of this new status quo there had been a number of occasions when one of the unlucky victims would be spirited away from town as part payment. Consequently, a decision was reached by the inhabitants of Azderan that on the eve of the arrival of the tribute collectors, all the womenfolk would be sent to the nearby Sisterhood seminary to seek sanctuary until it was safe to return to town.
“Forgive me for pointing this out,” interrupted Kayden, “but unless I’m mistaken, you’re a woman, so if the men extorting this town are due to arrive today or tomorrow… why are you still here?”
Letting out pained a sigh, Dashina replied, “If we didn’t fear reprisals for doing so, we would make sure there were no women still in town on tribute collection day. As it is, we send the girls and the younger women away while those of us of more advanced years are asked to voluntarily stay behind, to distract from the absences of our daughters and granddaughters.”
“You volunteered to be here?” asked Kayden, frowning. If what Dashina was saying was true, why would she agree to stay behind in Azderan? Why would any woman? “It makes no sense for you to agree to what you are claiming.”
“Look at me.” Dashina gestured at herself with both hands. “My best days are behind me—not that I was ever a vision of beauty in my youth. I generally don’t have to worry about men lusting after me. On tribute days I’m usually left alone.”
“Usually?” blurted Kayden. Not always? She could see the pain in the other woman’s eyes, and instantly sympathised, though surprisingly there was no trace of shame marring Dashina’s countenance.
“For some men it’s not about what you look like,” said Dashina, her bitterness evident in her voice. “Sometimes it’s about degrading and humiliating you. Sometimes it’s the thrill of taking another man’s wife.”
Clenching her toes inside her boots, Kayden could feel her blood beginning to boil. “How can you allow this to happen?” she lamented. “Why don’t you—?” Her words died abruptly on her tongue upon seeing the affronted expression sweeping over Dashina’s face.
“How dare you suggest I want this!” the woman all but hissed. “Eight months ago my eldest daughter was taken away as tribute, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since. I have two younger daughters left that I have to send away every other weekend. If the only way I can ensure their safety is to
subject myself to…” She took a moment to recompose herself. “Besides… I am of an age that means I won’t have to carry the shame or burden of bearing the offspring of one of these animals.”
“Forgive me, Dashina,” pleaded Kayden softly. She felt bad for inadvertently offending the woman. But she was incandescent at hearing of Azderan’s plight. “I simply wanted to understand why the town has given in to extortion rather than fighting.”
“I didn’t mean to snap at you, dear,” replied Dashina in placation. “And we’ve already learned the hard way that Baranzev Kazdaranian does not tolerate dissent, or defiance of any kind.”
Kayden recognised the name instantly. “Wait a moment! Are you telling me this Baranzev Kazdaranian is a real person?”
Frowning at the younger woman, Dashina said, “You were warned about Kazdaranian, and yet you still chose to travel through the province?” She sounded almost angry as disbelief blazed in her eyes. “Do you have any idea what his men will do to you if they find you here? They always come in large numbers to collect tribute from us, and when they lay eyes on you every man among them will want to have his way with you.” She looked disgusted while adding, “I dare not even think about the state you’d be left in once they are done with you. If you refuse to leave, right now, you’re only hope for avoiding that fate is to hope they decide to deliver you as tribute to Kazdaranian himself, completely untouched.”
“Dashina, calm down.” Kayden set her spoon down in her bowl. “I can assure you that any man who tried to do to me the things you are suggesting wouldn’t survive the attempt. And I didn’t ignore any warnings before coming here. I hadn’t even heard of Baranzev Kazdaranian until I ran into some of his men on the road while making my way to Azderan.”
“They let you go…?” If Dashina’s disbelief wasn’t obvious from her tone of voice, it was clearly written all over her face. “Unmolested?”
“I didn’t exactly give them a choice,” replied Kayden, barely containing her amusement. “Like I told you, I’m a dangerous woman.” A smile curled her lips at the memory of the beating she dished out to the hapless, ragtag group that tried to ambush her. “Besides, the idea that the reprobates I encountered are part of a group capable of seizing control of an entire province is frankly laughable. I hate to break this to you, Dashina, but you and the people of Azderan have been duped.”