by Emma Miles
‘Where’s your wagon, brother?’
Osun grimaced. ‘Stolen, brother. The roads just aren’t safe since Dryn Dunham was murdered. I’m having to start again. Got myself a good bodyguard this time.’
The guard whistled. ‘Sorry to hear that, brother. Will you be in the geranna house later?’
‘Aye, will I see you?’
‘I’ll be there, brother.’
‘Um.’ Osun hesitated. ‘I’m embarrassed to say, I don’t think I ever asked your name?’
‘Well.’ The guard frowned and put his hands on his hips. ‘I don’t recall that I gave it. I’m Ralden.’
‘Ralden.’ Osun gave him a wave and rode on through the gate. He chose a cheap but clean inn near the market place and left Cassien to deal with the horses. He stopped at one of the stalls where a young man was selling a mixture of ornaments and jewellery. He recognised a piece he himself had sold.
‘Are you Farkle Warne’s son?’ he asked.
The young man nodded.
‘I’m Osun, your father should be expecting me.’
‘Oh, yes! He is already at Gunthe’s.’
‘Thank you.’ Osun gave him a nod and hurried on toward the temple district. He turned off down a narrow ally before he got to the main street, the small sign showing a plate and cup the only indication that an eating house resided there.
Taking in a deep breath he lifted the latch and pushed open the door. There were four men within and all of them froze and ceased talking to stare at him.
‘Osun!’ Farkle Warne stood and the men relaxed. He looked to have lost even more weight than when Osun had last seen him, his face was almost skeletal and had a yellowish hue to it. He held onto the back of his chair with one hand, swaying slightly. ‘You can trust these men. Let me introduce you. This is Balten.’ Farkle pointed to the man seated to his right. He had brown eyes and dark brown hair that was going grey at the temples. The man nodded, his eyes scrutinising Osun. ‘He is a trader here in Margith and part of a group that, well, they protect women.’
Osun’s eyebrows went up.
The man sat back, his hand moving to his sword hilt in order to show Osun he was armed. ‘I was under the impression from Farkle you were looking for people like me. Of course, I need to know more about you, your aims, and if you are genuine before I tell you anything.’
‘Of course.’ Osun nodded. He grabbed the back of a chair and dragged it across to the table to sit. The sound brought the establishment’s owner to the dividing curtain. The short man peered out and gave Osun a wave. ‘Light ale, master Osun?’
‘Thank you.’ Osun smiled, pleased Gunthe had remembered. He turned to look at the other two men.
‘This is Jagner.’ Farkle sat down and indicated the man beside Balten. He had green eyes and dark blonde hair cut short to his scalp. ‘He is, as far as he knows, the only survivor of the family of Telanis.’
‘Telanis!’ Osun’s eyes widened. ‘Do you have power?’
Jagner shifted in his seat, glancing at those around him. This was a dangerous meeting for all of them and Jagner was young, perhaps not even twenty. He would have been a child when his family were all but wiped out by the Dunhams in their bid to take all of the Seats of Chem. He looked up at Osun. ‘I have a little.’
Gunthe came out from behind the curtain and placed a mug of ale in front of Osun and a bowl of nuts and dried fruit in the centre of the table. He retreated to his stool in the corner beside a low counter. No one objected.
The remaining man stood to introduce himself. He had a narrow face, a hooked nose and extremely bushy black eyebrows. ‘I’m Tembre, of Ifker Coven. I plan on taking Margith.’
Osun nodded up at him. ‘I’m Osun. I plan on taking Navere.’
Tembre cocked his head to one side, then grinned and sat back down.
Farkle cleared his throat. ‘So, Osun, what is it you want? It was a big risk to you, and to me, to send that letter. Why did you choose to trust me?’
Osun placed his hands on the table. ‘We have trusted each other before and – I hope it isn’t rude of me to say – other than protecting your son you have nothing to lose.’
‘That’s true enough.’ Farkle winced. ‘But I’m not someone of note let alone power.’
Osun raised a hand. ‘But you are a man of contacts, as you have proved today.’ He looked around the table coming last to Gunthe who watched them silently. ‘I want to build up a network of support and information across Chem, our aim to complete the overthrow of the Dunhams that myself and my brother began. We wish to ensure a more liberal and less war-hungry coven comes to the Seats of Arkoo—’
‘Who is your brother?’ Tembre demanded. ‘For that matter, who are you and what do you mean by what you “began?”’
Osun paused. ‘I’m Osun Dunham. My brother is Jorrun Dunham, the Dark Man of Elden.’
Both Tembre and Jagner leapt to their feet, young Jagner taking several steps back. Osun remained seated. ‘You have nothing to fear from me. I have no power, I’m a bloodless slave who should have died many years ago. Despite that, it was this sword that took the head from my father’s body.’
‘You killed Dryn Dunham? You?’ Tembre’s laughter died on his lips when he saw Osun’s expression.
‘Only due to the power of my brother and his wife.’
‘His wife?’ Balten waved a hand for the others to sit down.
‘Yes. She is a fire-walker of the Fulmers. Dryn Dunham made the error of underestimating the Fulmers as they are led by women. Kesta is very strong in magic, her mother – the Icante – even more so. The Icante took out Adelphy, Relta, and several other Dunhams all on her own. It was Kesta who killed Karinna and two others on Mantu. Jorrun and Kesta fought Dryn until he was drained of power and then I took his head.’ His fists clenched as he relived the moment.
Tembre’s eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. ‘But you say it’s you who will take Navere, you with no blood.’
Osun nodded. ‘We do not want another Dunham sorcerer in a Seat. The fact I have no blood of which to speak will be revolutionary. Think of the impact that will have on the ordinary folk of Chem.’
Osun saw both Farkle and Gunthe sit up straighter and exchange a glance.
Tembre snorted. ‘They’ll be thinking the Seats are up for grabs to just anyone!’
‘I think that might be the point,’ Farkle said quietly.
‘And how do you propose to take Navere?’
‘With the help of my brother and his wife. I will hold Navere by teaching the women held in the palace to use their magic. My coven will be formed of women.’
‘What?’ Tembre almost choked.
‘Osun.’ Balten reached across to place his hand on the table close to Osun’s. ‘Let me tell you who I am and the group I represent.’
Osun nodded. ‘Go on.’
‘The woman I purchased to bear me heirs is called Sellar. I was lucky. She loves me and I love her. She is clever and wise, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. We have a daughter, Eona, and we dread what will become of her. There are a few people like us in each city of Chem and we have formed a secret network. We try our best to ensure our daughters are only sold willingly into a good family and to a good man – one from our group. We have an arrangement that if anything happens to any of the men in the group, the others must step in quickly to try to buy their women and keep them safe. If you take Navere and form this coven of women, I can get you support from traders, craftsmen, and even a couple of minor coven members from my network.’
Osun was amazed, he’d had no idea such a group existed. He turned to Farkle. ‘You are a part of this group?’
‘I am.’ Gunthe spoke up from his stool in the corner.
Jagner took in a deep breath. ‘I’ve nothing to lose and I’m tired of hiding. I have no idea if I can trust you, after all you’re a Dunham, but I’d be willing to go to Navere with you and join your coven.’
All of them turned to look at Tembre, aware that if he
didn’t join them, they would have to consider him against them. The man glowered from under his huge eyebrows, regarding them all one at a time. ‘I don’t like this sentimentality about women and I like the idea of giving them power even less,’ he admitted. ‘But even if I take Margith I’ll be on my own. I’ll back your plan if you back mine and we support each other in Arkoom. Maybe it’s time to do things differently, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life watching my back waiting for the next plot. If we can form a stable coven in Arkoom with the support of common people of no blood, fellow sorcerers and, yes, even women, then I’d be a fool to go against it.’ He sighed and held out his hand. ‘I’m in.’
Chapter Seven
Kesta; Kingdom of Elden
Kesta lifted her face to feel the wind against her skin and closed her eyes. Jorrun placed a hand against her back and then gently teased the ends of her hair through his fingers, making her scalp tingle. The warriors who were sailing his small ship across the lake were talking quietly together toward the stern.
‘It will be nice to be out sailing again, just the two of us,’ she said without turning. ‘Not that I’m in a hurry to return to Chem.’
He gave a snort of amusement. ‘From what I recall we were barely talking the last time we sailed to Chem.’
She turned to look up at him. ‘That was then. I love being on the sea.’
‘Unlike poor Azrael.’
Kesta gazed out across the water, they were drawing close to the small wharf that served Northold, the Raven Tower seemed to watch them from above the walls and keep. ‘Will you ask him to come with us?’
‘He’ll be hurt if I didn’t.’
They moved out of the way as the warriors guided the ship against the wooden walkway and they stepped off together.
‘Shall I leave you to tell Rosa while I speak with Tantony?’
Her heart sank and she bit her lower lip. Jorrun gave her shoulder a squeeze and headed toward the Hold. She turned to check the warriors had unloaded her chest.
‘Would you bring that to the ivy tower for me?’ she asked.
The warrior nodded, slinging his own bag over his shoulder and then picking up the chest to proceed her.
When she entered the great hall, she found preparations were already underway for the wedding. Garlands of green leaves had been strung around the walls and candles were being set on the clothed tables, only one left bare for the Hold folk to use tonight. Rosa was waiting up in their receiving room and she stood on seeing Kesta, putting aside a shirt she was sewing.
‘How was Taurmaline?’
Kesta told the warrior to leave the chest and thanked him, then hurried over to hug Rosa. She sighed. ‘I hated it as much as ever, to be honest. Your queen looks well.’
‘And did Jorrun and the king leave on better terms?’
Kesta regarded her friend. She had only just told her she was staying at Northold, now she’d have to tell her she was leaving and wasn’t even allowed to tell her the truth of where. ‘Things are better,’ she replied slowly.
Rosa narrowed her brown eyes. ‘I sense a but.’
Kesta smiled, it faded quickly. ‘Bractius has some work for us that will involve our travelling for a while. We’re to go to the Fulmers and then to Mantu.’
‘Oh.’ Rosa looked away but drew in a breath and straightened up. ‘Well I imagine there must be a lot to do still after the war. Do you think you’ll be gone long?’
Kesta couldn’t meet her eyes. ‘I don’t know. We’ll have to find you a maid so you have some female company and someone to plot with!’
Rosa laughed, but Kesta could see she was upset. ‘We’ve got you some presents.’ She squeezed Rosa’s arm and went over to the chest. She didn’t have any money of her own, it wasn’t something they traded in on the Fulmer Islands, and she’d had to swallow her pride and ask Jorrun if he would get some things for Rosa. He’d known better than her what Rosa might need and insisted on buying it all. The only thing Kesta had added were a pair of sturdy boots. She held them out for Rosa.
‘So you don’t ruin your good shoes following me anymore.’
Rosa shook her head as she took them, blinking rapidly and rubbing at the corner of her eye with one finger. ‘Thank you.’
‘We got you a dress.’
Rosa’s mouth fell open.
‘It’s only fair as you got me mine. Unless you wanted to wear your one that you had in mind?’
‘Well,’ Rosa pursed her lip. ‘I guess it depends on which one goes best with these walking boots!’
***
Kesta stood close to Jorrun as they watched their friends getting married, her arm against his and the backs of their hands touching. He looked down at her and smiled, not able to completely maintain his guise of the severe and unbending Dark Man. Jorrun insisted on Rosa and Tantony taking the main seats at the high table but broke Elden tradition by sitting beside Kesta. As happy as she was, a little trepidation and sadness crept in. She’d only just decided to stay and already she was leaving.
The celebrations went on late into the evening. Jorrun leaned in and kissed her neck, taking hold of her hand. She looked up at him in surprise.
‘Come on.’
He stood and Kesta said a quick goodnight to Rosa and Tantony. She followed him up to her room in the ivy tower, past Rosa and Catya’s empty chambers. Out of habit she looked out of the window toward the Raven Tower. A faint glow told her Azrael was at home in Jorrun’s room.
‘He’s decided to come.’ Jorrun stood behind her and followed her gaze. ‘Not that I thought he would stay. I don’t think he’ll ever lose his fear of the sea, but he can’t bear to be left behind.’ Jorrun ran a lock of her hair through his fingers, sending a pleasant shiver down her back. ‘You seemed sad today, are you worried about Chem?’
She snorted. ‘I’d be stupid not to have concerns about going there. I’m not worrying about it though, I’ll leave that until I get there. I’m sad about leaving Rosa; I know she can manage perfectly well without me, but I’ll miss her. I already miss Catya.’
He slid his arms around her. ‘Just think how many others there are waiting in Chem for you to take under your wing. Do you want to stay here while I go back to Taurmaline?’
She broke free from his hug and looked up at him. ‘Would you mind?’
He frowned, although there was mischief in his eyes. ‘I thought you might be at least a little reluctant to be without me.’
She scowled. ‘You know very well I’ll miss you, but I’ll have plenty of time with you in Chem, locked away in your palace. I don’t have much time with Rosa.’
He looked over her head and out of the window, a smile growing on his face.
She narrowed her eyes. ‘What?’
‘Mmmm, just thinking about Chem, where you have to do as you’re told and aren’t allowed to talk back.’
She pushed him hard in the chest. ‘We’ll see about that, Jorrun Dunham!’
He grabbed her hand and grinned although the humour faded from his eyes. ‘I want to leave the name Dunham behind me,’ he said quietly. ‘Here and on the Fulmers it doesn’t matter so much as we only carry single names and titles. But in Chem they use family names.’
She swallowed and looked into his eyes. There was only one name that came to her mind. ‘Raven.’
His eyes widened a little and he placed a hand against her cheek. ‘Jorrun Raven.’
***
Kesta spent every moment she could with Rosa although she tried not to be selfish and take Rosa away from her new husband too often. They went out riding together and worked in the gardens, Kesta telling Rosa of her future plans, leaving out the fact it would be Rosa who’d have to carry them out. Kesta spent her nights in the Raven Tower, keeping Azrael company and reading through some of Jorrun’s books. Her eyes fell on a silver-tipped quill and, after several minutes of internal struggle, she gave in and wrote a letter to her mother, telling her only that she and Jorrun had work to do and that she might not hear
from her for some time.
Only five days after Jorrun had departed for Taurmaline, one of the Hold children came to tell her the Thane’s ship had been sighted returning across the lake. As much as she wanted to rush out and meet him, she knew he’d want to keep up his stern appearance. She chose to wait for him at the door of the Raven Tower. She wondered how many people at Northold were still fooled by his act, not many, she guessed, but they were all too loyal to say anything.
She found it hard to keep her composure as he came striding across the grass. She couldn’t seem to decide what to do with her hands and her stomach fluttered. He tilted his head a little to regard her, reaching out an arm to push open the door. She went in, heart beating fast, and glanced at the bolt as he closed the door behind him. He didn’t slide it across. She met his eyes and saw the Dark Man standing there instead of her Jorrun, his eyes emotionless, relaxed muscles giving away nothing. The butterflies in her stomach died.
Then he laughed and slid the bolt across and she growled at him, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. She bit his lip but not hard.
‘Jorrun Raven, do you enjoy making me angry?’
‘Did you miss me?’ He smiled smugly.
‘No!’ She glared up at him.
He took her hand and they climbed the steps. ‘Will you be ready to sail for Chem tomorrow?’
She shrugged. ‘I can be ready whenever you need me to be.’ A stone formed in her stomach. ‘How was Bractius?’
Jorrun frowned, raising his hand to acknowledge Azrael as they entered his room. ‘He seemed tired. In good enough spirits though. He has definitely come around to our plan and was full of enthusiasm for trade deals and the prestige this will bring him.’
‘How does he feel about you going?’ She carefully moved a couple of books aside and perched on the edge of the table. She saw Jorrun’s jaw muscles move as he clenched his teeth.