The Silent Blade

by P. S. Power

  It was, Anders thought, her real appearance. At least it was the one she wore, most of the time, from the description. It left her looking just as attractive as she had before, with slightly more attention going to her black rimmed eyes.

  Her voice was mellow, as well.

  “No doubt. We should probably hurry along to the next place we’re going. We need word from Eltha Tennet, as to whom she is selecting for her husband. Nothing against you, Hoatha, but the clear choice here is Naveed.” She grinned, as if jesting, then listed the reasons, which sounded real. “He’s near her own age, is attractive on a level that matches at least your own looks and if she doesn’t like him, he can have ten other wives or more, to distract himself from her. The only good thing in your favor is that marrying you might mean you can move to Modroc, with her. I’m not certain she’s aware of that yet, not being well informed about you, in particular.”

  Instead of seeming upset, Hoatha simply looked around. Almost as if bored with the world, already.

  “I can see all of that. As a gesture of peace and good will, it might work better for Eltha to live here. Plus, that way she can watch the goings on, as their Great One. What think you on the topic, Anders?” It wasn’t even as if the man tried to lead him. He was, it seemed, merely making conversation.

  Anders, tired, from both being awake the entire night and the stress of the situation, which hadn’t gone away for him at all, just stood for a moment.

  “That will be up to Eltha. I should pressure her a bit, to make a decision. Are you trying to get out of this? If so, now is the best time to say something. Eltha isn’t a horrible person, to trap you for the rest of your life in marriage, if it isn’t wished for.”

  The words had Hoatha spinning on him, his face wry, but hidden from most of the others there.

  “She’s a fine woman. Too young for me, but that’s almost all of that sort, in these late days. I could marry her without hardship to my heart or soul. It simply wouldn’t be a love match, between us. I think I am too old for that kind of thing, any longer. That or perhaps I am merely too jaded and worn by all I’ve seen. I can go through the motions of life, but truly living is... A ghost, to me.”

  Oddly, Martya closed her eyes then.

  “I understand what you mean. I’d hoped that... Well, the return of Farad to us, might change things. There is nothing left, inside of me, however.” She smiled, sadly, at Anders. “Don’t think I seek my death. That is not the way of this. It’s simply that I think I should return to my projects for a while and perhaps not enslave a young man who deserves his own life to my will? That would be hard for you and I think, criminal, for anyone to ask of you.”

  Hoatha glared at her then, but after a while, eased in his apparent upset.

  “That is the way of it. I’m glad to have you back. You and Far both. Still, I think it might be time for me to return to my home. Unless I am needed here, by Eltha, or some plan of yours, Anders?”

  He nearly froze, then shrugged, some moments too late.

  “I don’t suppose both of you will give up your plans to rule the world?”

  Martya made a sound that seemed nearly like choking, for a moment.

  “It was never about power for ourselves. You know that right? We only wanted, still wish for, a better world. For everyone. I might take a break from that, until you can come to see that there is a better way, yourself. Not that my plans will end. I think, perhaps, we have tipped the world over, and now it is going to grow into something better. A stronger thing, with justice and peace for every person, not simply those blessed by birth.” Then, cutely, she wrinkled her nose. “Of course, that’s also what I’d tell you if I was plotting and planning actively, so you’d better stay on your guard, hadn’t you?” There was a kiss on the cheek then, and after a moment, a glance around.

  “Are you staying on here then, Hoatha? To at least see what the young girl wants?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll be along, soon though, I wager. At least to visit.”

  Martya hugged Anders again, then threw something, a small stone it seemed, at the ground, directly at her feet. It created a great illusion of fog, and when that cleared, she was gone.

  Hoatha grinned.

  “That’s pure spectacle, there. She’s about... Five hundred feet that way. The woman in the blue dress moving toward the gate?”

  Anders saw her, and nodded.

  “Quick. That’s not a horrible trick. Not that it was needed. So, you’re both still going to try and take over the world, aren’t you? You were, the entire time.”

  That got a laugh.

  “Ah, you always were too quick for me to fool, Farad. Of course, we didn’t change plans, just for you. Still, it was very nice to be near your mind again. There was a time when I would have given up everything for you. For my love... Only, that was so long ago that I don’t truly remember it. Also, taking over doesn’t always mean death and mayhem. I’ll see if I can get Ruthina to go along with me on that score. I think she might be ready to listen now. If we do this correctly, you may not even be aware of it taking place. The world might well just slowly get better.”

  Anders, no doubt looking too young and probably thin enough to seem abused and neglected, smiled back, trying not to think of the body of another young boy being taken care of, some hundred feet away from him.

  “If you can do it that way, I might well help with it. Many might. The fear is that people often claim they mean well, then cast the world into war.” Some thought that was what history was. Wars and battles, marked by periods of silence, that weren’t spoken of at all.

  Hoatha nodded, but stayed where he was. Not vanishing into a puff of fog at all.

  “Good. I’ll try to see what we can put together. Later. We have time. Now, you can see to Eltha for me? Get her decision? We need to know that, before doing anything else. It will inform our next actions.”

  That made a simple sense. Especially for Hoatha. His life would be very different if he was to go to Modroc to live, after all. If he wasn’t needed for that, he probably had no reason to head in that direction at all. On the other hand, Anders pressing a marriage to happen in the same month as the death, the execution, of a prince, was probably a thing well beyond what was going to be allowed, or should be.

  Still, Eltha and her friends probably wouldn’t care at all that Lassa was gone. Not in more than an abstract way. They probably didn’t even know what had taken place, the night before. Though, both Eltha and Clarisse could have done that, having had enough lessons in Wizardry to at least make a valiant stab at doing that sort of thing.

  Feeling sad, Anders started to walk away, wondering what his place in things was, if there would be one at all. A family member of his had died. A criminal, but also a man he knew. He wasn’t aware of the customs of the land he was in, but thought that they tended to shave their faces and heads, when there was an important death.

  Which meant he waved at Depak Sona, trying to find out.

  The man gestured for him to come, which was fair, but he was also by Sula Darian, Naveed, Lissa and Salina. Also, Sulana Meegan and what he had to think were most of the other wives of the ruler. It wasn’t a small group at all. There was a riot of colors, instead of all black, as well. The Sula was in white, for instance. A fine tunic, with decoration and matching trousers. Even the boots were in the same color.

  Depak looked at him, a bit coldly, and frowned.

  “You need me, Anders?” The tone was strange, as if both put upon and desiring an excuse to leave, at the same time.

  He spoke in Istlan tongue, in case his question was going to be seen as rude.

  Anders whispered as well.

  “I do not know the mourning customs here. Do we mourn for a lost prince, or family member, if he was a criminal? Also, do I shave my head and beard? At least, would I, if I had such?” His face had some stubble on the chin and upper lip, but it was hardly thick or dense, as of yet.

  When Depak spoke, it was lou
der and in Barquean.

  “Prince Anders asked if it was appropriate for him to shave his head in his grief, as is the custom here.”

  That wasn’t exactly what he’d said, but the Sula nodded.

  “A grand gesture, given everything. Thank you for thinking of it, Prince Anders. I shall do the same, for my lost child.”

  Anders simply nodded at the idea. After all, he had little knowledge of what he looked like, and being without hair wouldn’t shame him much. So he, along with Depak Sona, Lissa and Salina all went to a woman inside the palace, who saw to such things.

  Then, all of them had their hair removed, while thinking of the life that had been lost.

  Chapter twelve

  The meal was cozier than Anders had intended, to be truthful. He was sitting in the small room where he normally took his own repast, and had invited Eltha and whoever of her people wanted to come. Instead of the four or five he’d figured on, there were three people in the room. Eltha, of course, plus Duma Sett and for some reason, Depak Sona.

  Anders smiled and sat at the low table, as if it were a thing he’d done his entire life. If anyone there questioned that, knowing it wasn’t the way of Istlan at all, no one so much as raised an eyebrow at him. Before he could ask after their health, as a collective, Eltha swallowed and looked down.

  “I’m sorry to hear about the passing of the Prince. We heard the announcement, but no more than that.” It was an odd thing, but Anders had noticed it himself. The word of the death, an untimely thing, for a fifteen-year-old boy not at war, or taken ill, had gone out to the entire city. The whole land, in fact. Anders had worked the day healing, after having his head shaved.

  Some others in the city, seeing that had followed suit, it seemed. That or they were going to do it anyway, hearing the dire news. Only of the passing, however. Not the how or why of things at all. Not even that there had been darkness surrounding the whole event.

  So, instead of announcing a thing that he might not be allowed to, out of shame or to protect the privacy of others, Anders just nodded at the woman, and tried to seem sad.

  “Thank you. We weren’t close, save these last weeks. Still, by the rules here, he was family. I have had little of that, in my life, so... Well, you understand, I’m certain.” He hoped so, since he wasn’t entirely up on what he was trying to say himself.

  Duma Sett teared up then.

  “This is so hard. All such things are. Now, you summoned us, finally? We were just plotting the other day, to try and tear you away from the lovely princesses or great magics they have you doing here.” The wording was odd, and earned a sour expression from both Eltha and Depak.

  It took a moment for Anders to realize that he wasn’t doing any Princesses, or anyone else, at all. Which was why the response had come. It was a bit of a naughty thing to say. Probably meant to throw him off, instead of suggest those would be the correct things for a person like himself to be off doing.

  Depak looked away and smiled.

  “I teasingly suggested he go to the city center and set up a free healing location there. He’s done that every day since we arrived, of course. No one is certain if that’s him scaling the lines of power here or if he’s simply that dedicated to following my commands as his master. They were even more baffled when it turned out to be neither. At least I informed them all, those most important, that I am not your master, being you are an apprentice to no one now.”

  Anders made a face, which was probably too dour.

  “Well, Master Tolan...”

  Depak nodded then, his eyes going wide.

  “Ah, I had to ask after that myself. It seems that, when you were named a knight, all such contracts were broken. You aren’t even a knight sworn to the King, so, at this point, you are only responsible to yourself and the cause of right. Though you can be called up for sixty-three days, if a war comes? At least in Istlan. I must say, that does fit better, what with you being the headmaster of a school now.” Again, he grinned.

  Duma Sett, eyes glistening a bit, made her face seem darling as she looked at the other man.

  “Ah? How is that to work, with Anders being so youthful? I notice that he was allowed to travel with us to Modroc, and again on this side trip, to see to who Eltha will wed? It’s a shame that one of the three prospects passed away, at such a time. Is it... Intrigue, do you think? I normally wouldn’t press in, given the delicate topic, but we need to know if we’re leaving Eltha in the arms of a murderer or not. At least one who will kill their own family to jockey for position.”

  Eltha seemed bleak, for a moment. Then she let her head hang, and put both hands on the table in front of her.

  “Each man seems a fine choice. I was... Well, Prince Lassa seemed to be occupied with other things. Training in the new magics? That could have been so that he would be a good choice for me, might it not? Now... I find that my choices are diminished. If you are allowed to help, I beg of you... Both of you...” She was too dark by far and seemed very nearly frightened, in a deep fashion.

  Then, Anders wouldn’t want to marry a murderer either. Not a mad one who might kill his own family, at least. Rather tightly, Anders looked at each person in turn, ending on Depak. His mentor, even if he claimed otherwise. At least he was still learning from him.

  “We need to seal the doors.” Then, as soon as Depak did that for them, rising and actually barring the thing, which would probably throw the food schedule off, since it couldn’t be delivered, Anders closed his eyes.

  To use his skills to check for listeners. Amazingly, there were none. He switched to Istlan anyway. Many there would probably learn Modroc, since they were close neighbors. Scara was a different tongue, but it shared similar bones. Truly, even Istlan did, but the distance and time between them all had made it nearly a code. One that all in the room he was in understood.

  “Prince Lassa attacked Prince Naveed with a knife, last night. We got to Naveed in time, so he’s healed, at least physically. He was stabbed over a hundred times in the back and neck. When we caught him, Lassa claimed it was to grab power, for himself. If it was anything else, well, I didn’t check, to be honest. It’s been a hard night.”

  Depak took over, his voice dark and portentous.

  “He’d tried to kill Anders on his first day here. He was going to be put to death for it, but Anders had been, as a jest I think, given to see to his instruction. He did set, and pay for, lessons for him and spent time each day, in meditation. Alas, eleven days wasn’t a long enough time to help ease his spirit. Truly, the boy should have gone to you and begged for marriage, Eltha. He was not a bright young man. Not a dullard, either, since the royal line here is strong that way. In magic as well. Lassa... Was executed at dawn. I have to ask that you not spread this around? I think the truth should be out in the world, but it is not my place to announce such things.”

  Eltha gasped, at the news. Late enough that it had to be an affectation. Still, it was the right thing to do, as far as tone went.

  “That’s horrible. Naveed is all right? Not harmed beyond bearing or left crippled?”

  Depak waved at her then and made a face that was nearly playful.

  “He is well, in fact. Anders worked on him for hours and he will need to recover his strength, but he is a powerful man in his own way. I asked Mistress Belford to see to healing tonics for him. So, do not fear that way.” The fellow paused then, and winced, then sank down a bit, as if trying to merge with the floor, or at least the pillow, below him. “Do you have a preference as to who you like, between the two remaining candidates?”

  The girl, who was older than Anders by at least five or six years, let her lips blubber in an unseemly, but heartfelt, fashion.

  “You mean, which man I don’t know do I pick to spend my whole life with? I can’t tell you. In that, I mean to say, I have no clue who to choose. If I were walking down the street, either of them might catch my eye. In conversation they are both polite enough and friendly. Neither is married, which would make m
e their first wife. Hoatha is more learned in magic, but Naveed is in line for the leadership of a mighty land. We have spoken, in our chambers, about which man would give the better claim to peace, that being the only area I would think them at all unequal. Some say Hoatha Eta, the rest Naveed. It is slightly more to the last one, since people will understand marrying a prince as a way to peace.”

  She glared then, at Anders. He didn’t know what he’d done specifically, but had to figure there was more than enough for her to blame him for in her current world and life for it to be well earned.

  “Not that I understand how I ended up being the one to do this. Sweyn has a younger sister, after all. She’s lovely, even. I’m literally just some street girl who managed to impress Clarissa Sett with my desire to learn. I don’t even have parents. If I have family in this world, they never bothered to let me know about it. Which... well, that’s fine. Still, there’s no reason for my body being good enough in anyone’s mind to seal a peace, is there?”

  Depak, rather casually, waved that away.

  “You’re the Modroc Great One. True, untested and young, but powerful and learned in magic in a way that only a handful of people in this world can lay claim to. You’re even marrying some strange man to buy peace, which is a sign of power, even if you didn’t start out with riches and treasures as a birthright. I think then, the only question is, which man serves your interests and that of your land, the best?”

  Everyone was silent for a long while, as the door was tried. The shaking stopped, when Anders called out. In Scara.

  “Sorry there, we’ll be some minutes in private discussion. Could you come back? I know it’s a horrible imposition.”

  There was a giggle, and a low reply.

  “Call for me when I am needed?”

  Duma Sett covered a grin, for some reason. After a moment the rest of them did the same.

  Except Anders. He moved back to Istlan.

  “I can see that. If you choose Hoatha, you can take great magics back to your land. If you are attacked, as a land, it would be reasonable to think that he would stand by your side. At least as long as it wasn’t a problem with Barquea on the other side. Naveed on the other hand is here, now and will be privy to the words and actions of the Sula, on a daily basis. He also, I would imagine, would stand by you, if battle comes. There might be more ties and rules to that last one however, since he represents a land.”