The Silent Blade

by P. S. Power

  It was important to ask. That was one of the rules of working with that sort of person. Also, not treating them like monsters. That never went well, for some reason Far hadn’t explained too clearly as of yet.

  As the girls gasped, Anders did his part.

  “That’s a lot to carry such a distance. Are you well? Do you need to refresh yourself or... Well, do other things that I don’t know about?”

  There was a sense of pleasure from the thing then. Almost a wave of it.

  “I’m very fine, friend Adners. Thank you.”

  He grinned.

  “Anders.”

  No one commented on that part, not even Jonpries. There was a sense from the being that it had been misspoken on purpose, however. As a jest.

  Sweyn picked everything up and moved to a low table, sorting it all, before selecting one of the things, a sealed letter that seemed to be a single sheet, and looked to be heavy and official, with a strange seal on it, in blood. When it was unfolded, Sweyn read the whole thing, then explained what it said, instead of passing it to others.

  “The Leas’seth are behind this, or so it seems right now. That... They’re worshippers of the goddess of death, and tend to use assassination to address even things they find to be small issues. Technically it’s illegal to be a member of their order, but they’re rather good at hiding what they are. The masks are a giveaway, it seems. It... Didn’t Prince Lassa wear a mask like that? Half one color, half the other?”

  No one else there knew directly, except Anders.

  “He did have one on when he tried to kill me. We don’t really know if that’s the case with Naveed. He had one with him, when I found him, so it seems likely. Is that religious order one that exists here?”

  It was interesting, since only Rashid knew that one, out of all of them.

  “Possibly? Not under that name, but the Order of the Silent Blade is rumored to both exist and also wears a similar mask when they kill. I have read... I think there was a goddess involved there, in their system of beliefs? It might not be the same thing, but...”

  Anders just started nodding.

  “Agreed. If we have two members of that order and Lassa was wearing a similar mask, it seems there might be a link there. We need to go carefully, however. If they aren’t linked, assuming it has to be that way might cost us time in this investigation...” Everyone was looking at him, as he tapered off.

  Then he blinked.

  After all, he, even as a young prince in that land, wasn’t the prime individual to be set to such an investigation. If one was desired at all. Not knowing that, if it was even a thing for him to suggest or request at all, or even if it would be looked into, was why he wasn’t the right person to ever lead there. Not that he couldn’t learn, but he didn’t have even a boy’s understanding of how Barquea worked, that way.

  So, he shrugged and looked at Rashid, who was a man of that land, if nothing else. Also, clearly, one who prized learning.

  “How would that be handled, do you think? I’m not certain, but I think that if I get involved in even one more thing without being invited, that the Sula might just have me switched.” He didn’t think that was the case at all, but the old librarian grinned at the idea.

  “Ah... Let me ask after that? If nothing else, we should take these reports to Darian. If that’s allowed, of course, Princess Sweyn?” The man waited, seeming a bit diffident with the girl. She made a face, but then nodded.

  “Let me read the other things as well, then we can take what is allowed to him, directly? I don’t want to hide anything, but I might have orders about what I can share or not and I can’t go against what my father wants, that way.”

  That just made sense, and even Rashid simply nodded at the idea. It was a very accepting thing, in fact.

  “No one would imagine otherwise, of course. I... Should I leave? I’m not known to you, and only the man who guards the library here, not anyone of importance.”

  The Princess smiled at the man.

  “Please, feel free to stay? We could ask for refreshments, if you wish?”

  The man shook his head, but did sit on a pillow, instead of standing. Then they all waited, silently, as the Princess read. To herself. It was clear that some of what was in the missives was secret. Not all, however.

  “Father is requesting that we still have Prince Anders come with us, even though, clearly, we can’t ask him to come as a performer or even to display his magics, now. He wants to make certain you know that he meant no insult, in the prior request?”

  Anders smiled at being mentioned at all. He wasn’t that important, at the moment, after all. Not to his own mind, at least.

  “None was taken, of course. I’m still planning to do some shows, if that can be arranged without giving insult? I worked on them, fairly hard, after all. I also promised a show for Jonpries and his friends. We should do something for the other Devica there, in Modroc, as well.”

  The whole thing was translated, for the energy being.

  The cloud, who was holding back, floating near the door, unobtrusively, for a thing that was about the size of two large horses, spoke then.

  “That would be a fine thing, Anders. My kind is not treated well there, truly. Not abused, but not given friendship, openly. It makes things strained that need not be.”

  Princess Sweyn made a face at the words, clearly starting to work out the strange sounding version of her own language.

  “Well, let’s see if we can change that? The Devica are clearly too important for us to mistreat like that. We do hold them in high esteem, though I understand what you mean. We tend to treat them as... Tools, or forces to bargain with, instead of as friends or members of our own family. Is that... Would that be desired, do you think, Jonpries?”

  There was a pause, but the deep voice that came back was pleasant.

  “Yes.”

  Anders clapped, a few times.

  “Good, then. We’ll get Princess Sweyn to set that up for us, so we don’t make everyone angry at us coming in and pushing people around?”

  That seemed right to him, but Sweyn shook her head.

  “No one will think that of you, Anders. Not there.”

  Eltha looked at him, her brown eyes seeming strange for a moment, hooded and amused.

  “Is there anything in those letters about your younger sister, perhaps?”

  It took him a second to get that one, since people had joked about him marrying the girl at one point.

  Sweyn looked at the pile of papers that had been set aside, then didn’t speak, fixing Eltha with a bland look, instead. It was clearly filled with meaning, or meant to be. Clarissa laughed, gently.

  “Dimian? That...” The woman, even if it wasn’t truly her way, held her tongue then, and seemed suddenly concerned. Not worried, but as if she, and the others, weren’t supposed to speak on that topic at all.

  Sweyn read off a few more tidbits, and then stood, at the end.

  “We should go and speak to the Sula? There are some things to report, outright. Where the two assassins we have come from as well as who likely sent them, if nothing else.”

  Everyone moved along with them, which included Prince Erold, and Depak Sona, who met up with them in the hallway, outside of the Sula’s office space. Prince Naveed was inside the room already. They were all asked to sit, first thing, by Darian himself.

  The man didn’t speak after that, merely smiling, and finally fixing on Anders, looking up at Jonpries a few times, with some small trepidation. Then, interestingly, he turned to Rashid and stared, until the man spoke.

  Not the Great One. The Librarian. The one who had been called on to tell the world about what Lassa had done. Who had killed him, even if he claimed to hate that sort of thing. It spoke of being more important than the man had let on.

  He smiled, gently.

  “Our friend Jonpries, the large glowing one back there, has taken missives to Sulat Mondeth, and brought replies, in a most timely fashion. Those were sent to P
rincess Sweyn, directly. Perhaps, if you are willing Princess, you could share what is allowed with us?”

  That happened rather directly. With the assassins being covered first thing.

  “They’re from the border temple, in the south and west of Modroc. A remote mountain compound. I don’t know much more about it, just the rough location. Father has sent soldiers to rout them and break their order, but that won’t hold them forever. Once they start trying to kill, they tend to continue working on it for a very long time. They’re masters of oracles and portents, so can strike before things even come into being, at times. It’s being addressed, and my father hopes that these criminals attacking won’t be seen as continued hostilities from our land?”

  The Sula sighed.

  “Indeed. This is a difficult conundrum. It would be too simple to send people, claiming them not involved with the ruler of a land, to kill another ruler, or his heir. At the same time, we have similar people here, in Barquea.”

  Anders spoke, even if he wasn’t really supposed to, clearly.

  “The Order of the Silent Blade? Is it possible that Prince Lassa had been approached or influenced by them? The masks worn were similar. We have no other reason to ask that, other than the two assassins being related to that group, in some way, possibly.”

  Darian narrowed his eyes.

  “Yes. Ghosts and phantoms, who are nearly impossible to remove from our land. We have tried, thousands of times.” He looked at Rashid directly, then Depak. “Would you two look into this for us? See if we can find any link, if it is there, between such zealots and Prince Lassa?”

  Both men simply nodded.

  Darian looked at Sweyn, who went on then, unprompted otherwise.

  “My father has also suggested a possible marriage between my younger sister, Princess Dimian and Prince Anders. He wishes to meet Anders first, of course, to make certain he’s suitable. Coming as he does from the lands of barbarians and heathens, naturally.” Her face fought a grin at the insult.

  Darian snorted.

  “Yes, a real concern, no doubt.” His face was bland, and tone dry. Not angry. Then, it was clear that Barquea thought of those other places as being the inferior option as well.

  Truly, Istlan was the most open minded that way, as odd as it seemed. Anders wouldn’t have guessed that, until he’d seen other places. That, of course, was the heart of the issue with Master Belford. He enjoyed men in bed. A thing that was known of in Barquea, but rather hated. Anders didn’t really understand why they were like that, but it was a simple truth.

  Also, from what he’d heard the man had gotten caught having relations with another man there, as well. Which was, almost certainly why he thought the Sula wanted him dead. That would be unfortunate, of course, were it to happen. You didn’t kill an Ambassador. Not without starting a war.

  Not that he knew what to do about that kind of thing. He wasn’t trained in such matters at all. Which meant, of course, that he needed to make certain he understood the danger, had the right reason behind it and got with people who were better able to understand what was truly needed.

  Which, given who he was, meant that he needed to use magic for it. Doing anything else would be asking for him to make the wrong move and end up with Master Belford dying, which would probably start a war. A strange one, since Istlan couldn’t actually invade Barquea or the other way around, with any kind of ease or alacrity.

  That would mean other techniques would be used and probably that ordinary people would suffer. Not that they didn’t always, when tension went upward, between lands.

  Darian had continued speaking, after a moment.

  “Still, Prince Anders is a fine man, and would make a good husband, I think. You have dispatched the duty you spoke of to me last year?”

  He blinked. That had been finding Ganges and trying to talk the man into not taking over the world. He didn’t know how well that had worked, but he honestly had taken care of the matter, to the best of his ability.

  “I did, Sula Darian. The threat to the world, while not gone, has promised to pull back and not try to harm us. I don’t know if that can be trusted or not, but it was what was spoken of.”

  He didn’t mention Ganges at all, since speaking about that name, as more than a historical figure, would have everyone in the room except for Erold and possibly Depak, jumping up to relieve themselves of a sudden natural urge.

  The Sula might not have been able to hold that idea in his mind, but the man didn’t ask for more. Clearly thinking it was about hiding information from the others in the room with them. Even if that wasn’t the case at all. Jonpries could have found out for himself, after all.

  The pleasant seeming ruler, his face showing only a small trace of age, mainly around the eyes, took a single, fairly deep, breath.

  “Good! I feared asking. Amazing, as well. What would you have as a reward? The Sulat suggests his daughter, but... I think last year there was some idea that Princess Salina might be a good match for you?”

  Anders froze.

  “Uh... Princess Jasmin, if I recall, correctly?”

  Sula Darian touched his chin.

  “She’s married already, of course. We could offer Salina up, anyway? A bit older than you are, but not by so much as to seem untoward?”

  No one spoke for a moment. Anders nearly did, but the truth was that, while he wasn’t that fond of Salina, he didn’t dislike her, either. Any talk of him marrying was going to be a bit unwelcome, for the time being, however.

  Depak coughed, a bit roughly. It got the Sula to stare at him.

  “You have something, Great One?”

  “I was just thinking that Princess Lissa might be a better match that way?”

  It was a strange thing to speak of, but oddly, Eltha nodded, her eyes a bit moist.

  “She’s mentioned that idea, rather openly. She’s a trifle young, being only twelve, however. No need to press things that way. Dimian is the same age, I think?”

  Sweyn tilted her head.

  “Fourteen, now?”

  The Sula bobbed in place.

  “Very good. We should see if that works for either of them, Anders? I would like you to consider living here, in Barquea, if your duties as the Great One of Istlan, can be safely set aside? You have a college there? We could use such a thing here, as well, if that will entice you?”

  Princess Sweyn made a soft, almost rough, noise, in her throat.

  “Modroc will offer three wives, a school, and lands, as well as a title. Prince, if through marriage? It would pay to consider that, Anders.”

  Those words started what seemed like a bidding war, which was finally put to rest at five wives, a school as large as he wanted, and his own lands to govern, in both locations. As a wealthy man, he was actually allowed as many wives as he could afford to keep, of course. So the real offer was that they’d provide the women to him, without his having to do all the work, first. Eltha mentioned that part, grinning a bit, as if he might not understand. Which he honestly hadn’t, so taunting aside, the information was helpful.

  Anders finally shook his head.

  “All of this teasing is making me highly uneasy. I should... See if Rashid Sona and Depak Sona have need of my aid in their investigation? I can scribe for them, perhaps, if that isn’t outside of what is allowed, Sula?”

  There was a moment of thought, then a head shake.

  “I think your current duties are sufficient, Prince Anders. We have trained scribes here for such work, if it’s needed. Researchers, as well. You were working on a bridge, with Naveed?”

  Those words had Sweyn smiling, which had stopped while she negotiated for him. Or whatever that strange event had been.

  “Yes! Forgive me for not bringing that up already. Father loves the idea. Especially if Prince Anders is paying for it all? That portion was unclear. He is willing to cover half of the cost, of course, but I’m not supposed to mention that first thing, in case we can get a better deal that way.”

&nb
sp; He simply sat up straighter.

  “That works, then. I can do the work myself, or get Erold to help me with that. Is that near where we need to take Princess Salina and Princess Lissa, anyway? We could do it in one trip, if so.”

  Depak nodded.

  “That seems correct. I might be needed elsewhere, for a time. There’s no need for the girls not to see to their new training, of course. You could travel with them, Anders?”

  That seemed the best plan, really.

  As long as the assassins weren’t coming after them.

  “If I’m not needed here, to guard Prince Naveed? Not that the people here aren’t good at their jobs. I could sleep across the door to your chamber though, if it’s needed?” In that case, well, it would be annoying for him, but he really could do it.

  It was somewhat humorous, but no one acted as if he meant it that way. The Sula simply froze for a moment and then looked at him, directly.

  “We’ll start with a simple increase in guard and caution. I may call on your services that way, if things intensify, however. Thank you for the offer, Prince Anders.”

  With that he, and most of the others, were dismissed.

  With orders to get a trip underway.

  Part Two: Blades of the Goddess

  Chapter fifteen

  Anders didn’t feel that awkward about Princess Salina having been put in charge of the trip to the south eastern military base, not in particular. It was sort of obvious that everyone else had, at first, wondered at that idea. The orders had come from Depak Sona for that, specifically, however. Technically the man wasn’t the one in control of their trip to Modroc, but it wasn’t a horrible idea, on the surface. Not if you expected Salina to be an Apprentice Great One, instead of what everyone else seemed to expect. That being, of course, herself.

  The old self, that hadn’t seen a war. The bratty Princess who had been known for her quick temper and loose ideas of what humor entailed. Instead of ordering someone else to see to what they needed for such a journey, the woman actually took time to plan, and paid for the whole thing, out of her own funds.