by H. M. Clarke
Malchance stood off to one side next to Ranen’s wife and two children, flanked by two of Garrick’s guardsmen, watching.
“My husband is not here. He left early this afternoon and has not returned.”
“Do you know where he was going?”
“No, sir.” The woman hugged her children closer as the sounds of booted feet began to be heard in all areas of the building.
Malchance smiled at the woman. “You have beautiful, well behaved children.”
“Thank you Duke Malchance.”
“I wish I had a daughter. Girls can bring such joy to a family, can’t they? Do you mind?” Malchance held his hands out to the little girl who looked to be no more than maybe three or four. The woman hesitated and he saw the grip around the child’s shoulder tighten before the women reluctantly let her arm slip away.
Malchance reached down and lifted the little girl into his arms. “What pretty hair you have. What is your name?”
The little girl smiled at the compliment and ran a pudgy hand over her blonde curls. “My name is Raynar.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Raynor.” Malchance smiled down at the girl. Her mother anxiously watched them both. Malchance ignored the woman. He stepped a short distance away from them, turning so that the little girl’s back was to her mother. “Do you know where your father is?” The little girl shook her head, but her eyes automatically moved to the dark wood paneling to the right of the fireplace. He slowly placed the little girl back on the floor and her mother quickly reached forward and snatched her close.
“Captain Talon?”
“Sir.”
Malchance moved to the wall and studied the intricately carved wood. The same woodland vine motif was echoed across all the panels, all fresh and new. Except for one. A panel carving to the far right shared the same motif, but it was dull, the polish had been worn away. Especially around that thick carved flower. The Duke reached out and touched a finger to the hard, wood petals and heard a feminine gasp come from behind him. He smiled.
He gripped the flower and twisted. A soft click was heard behind the wood and a large section of the wood paneling opened an inch away from the rest of the wall. Malchance nodded to Talon who pulled the door fully open to reveal a small room, dimly lit by a small smokeless lantern and huddled in black wool robes in the far corner was the pudgy form of Ranen.
The next morning, Garrick was reading through the documents that Malchance had handed him. The first of which was the charges laid out for treason and attempted murder. Then on the next several pages was all the evidence they had collected to show these charges be true and accurate, and then, on the final page was a very long list of names. A list of names much longer than what Garrick thought it should be.
“For a Justicar, Ranen quickly turned on his allies and fellow conspirators.” Garrick spread the papers across his work desk.
“Yes, he did. We had not even started the interrogation before he started spilling names, schemes and murder plots.”
“I thought they were supposed to be made of firmer stuff than that.”
“You would think so. Ranen must have gotten used to soft living as the High Justicar. Plus he has a wife and two children. His cooperation will ensure that they are not stripped of their money or rank.”
Garrick nodded and picked up the last page from his table. Ranen and Felian’s names were at the top of that list, but as his eyes moved down, he saw several names that surprised him at being there.
“Are you sure of these?” Garrick asked holding the list up for Malchance to see.
“Yes. Names I was not sure of are on another list in my office awaiting further investigation.”
Garrick released the page and let it flutter down on his desk and stepped back to the charge sheet. At the bottom of that page was a large space awaiting his signature and Seal. Garrick sighed and flicked open his inkwell and picked up his pen.
“Arrest them all Willard. And let it all be done.”
The decision had been made. Dipping his pen in the inkwell, Garrick quickly signed his name to the bottom of the document. Malchance dobbed melted wax from the heated wax stick at the signatures’ end and Garrick lifted his Great Seal from its box and stamped it into the cooling blob.
CHAPTER TEN
“Felian has escaped us. And the man that we had under watch as her suspected spellcrafter, the senior footman, has disappeared as well.”
Talon stood just inside the door of the seneschal’s office, which was now Duke Malchance’s office. The Duke was seated at the work desk shuffling papers and Garrick stood to one side looking through the small glazed window to the courtyard down below.
“Have the city searched for them. Increase the scrutiny at the city gates for people, animals and vehicles entering and leaving Hered.”
“Yes, Prince Garrick.” Captain Talon bowed his head. “Are there any other orders?”
“The Emperor is not to be disturbed. The Physician says that he is in desperate need of rest and recuperation if he is to recover completely from his ensnarement. Duke Malchance and I are the only visitors that can see him. All food, drink and medicines are to be thoroughly vetted before going into his presence.”
“Yes, your highness.” Talon bowed again and took a step back before he turned and strode for the door.
Once the door was closed Garrick looked to Malchance. “Were Felian and her pet magic user the only ones to escape?”
Malchance shook his head. “Two Justicars on the arrest list have not yet been found either. Felian has not been seen since yesterday evening. I suspect that as soon as she heard of the failure of the assassination, she left the city. I do not think we will find her here.”
“She would not have gone far though. That woman does not like to be too far away from power.”
“She also values her skin remaining unblemished and keeping her head attached to her neck Garrick, the woman will not stay around here.”
Garrick poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter the Duke kept by the window, he turned and offered Malchance to refill the glass he had but the Duke waved it away accompanied with a shake of his head.
“She will not get far,” Garrick said after taking a drink from his glass and looking back out of the window. “The empire will be hunting for her and anyone who aids her. She tried to kill me and I still believe that she was behind Caitin’s death. It is because of her that my daughter grew up without knowing who her parents are and is now a Hatar Kalar.”
A loud screech sounded through the room making Garrick wince as it grated against his eardrums. It came from outside, heard even through the thick stone walls of the palace and a large shadow passed over the ground of the courtyard outside. Guards and servants scurried for cover as a large blue Hatar’le’margarten appeared, back winging to slow its descent onto the now deserted cobblestones.
“What’s happened?” Malchance asked as he rushed from his desk to the window.
“A Hatar landing in the courtyard.”
Both men watched as the creature set down daintily on all fours and then crouched down on its front legs. The flyer quickly released himself from the flight harness and dismounted from the Hatar as the new Palace Guard rushed out to meet him.
“Do you recognize them?” Malchance asked.
“I do, they are from Harada’s Flight, though I can’t remember their names.”
As the two men watched the scene from the window, after a brief discussion, the small group of the guard and the Hatar Kalar now moved in their direction.
“He’s here to see you, Garrick. That can only mean Harada or Oded has some bad news for us.”
“Let’s hope to the One that it’s only that the Arranian’s have attacked.”
Placing his glass back by the decanter, Garrick quickly left the room to meet with the Hatar Kalar.
The Gathering
The Way to Freedom
Book 10
H.M. Clarke
CONTENTS
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”
-A Saying of the Hater’le’margarten
CHAPTER ONE
“There you are.”
Dearen started at the sound of Tayme’s voice when she, Hauga and Raga came through the door. When she looked up at him, he took a step away from her. It was then Dearen realized that her face mirrored the anger that she felt inside for Asnar. She closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath, willing her facial muscles to relax. It took a few moments but once Dearen felt the tension ease from her face, she opened her eyes and forced a smile at Tayme.
“Yes, we’re back. We’ve found Asnar. I don’t think he’ll be joining us again.” Dearen gave Tayme an uncaring shrug of the shoulders.
“You didn’t…” Tayme’s half-finished question hung uncertainly in the air between them and Dearen saw Dalon Peana glance up at them from his vantage point across the room.
“He was still breathing when we left him-” Raga snorted, making Dearen stop and look up at him. “-Much to some people’s displeasure.” Dearen shook her head and moved to sit at the large table. “We didn’t do him any harm,” she said as Tayme seated himself and his sour look in the chair across from her. “We asked him for the truth and he wouldn’t give it to us, so we left it at that.”
“Whose truth were you after?” Tayme asked. “Yours or his?”
Dearen glared at him. She could tell that he was upset, his flushed face made the purple birthmark stand out strong across his cheek. “Any truth would have been preferable.”
‘He still lied to us. And we were gullible enough to believe him.’ Raga’s voice cut into her mind. His anger will be with him for a very long time. The One, protect the next Pydarki that gets on his wrong side. Dearen turned to him and replied to him aloud so that Tayme would not be left out of half the conversation.
“I know he lied to us Raga. What’s done is done and we cannot change his, or our past actions. The only thing we can do is ensure we make the right decisions now with the information we have to hand.” Dearen turned back to Tayme. “Which means that we need to get to the Dymarki Muster point and tell the Clan Council that we are on our own. Kral, I know you said that you and Trar were going to stay with me, but I will understand if you wish to go…”
“You don’t get rid of us that easily Wing Commander.” Tayme leaned on his elbows across the table. “My orders from Harada were to find you and keep you safe.”
Dearen could feel eyes staring at them from across the room. “What say you Lieutenant Peana?” She asked staring at the man over Tayme’s shoulder.
The Lieutenant shrugged. “The Hatar Kalar are not under my command. They have their orders.”
“But what about you and your men though?”
“We still need to find our Captain. Our biggest lead is that he was going to come here, so here we will stay until we hear otherwise.”
‘Dalon Peana is worried. Capitan Vosloo is much loved by his men, and this disappearance is not like him. For some reason, the Lieutenant suspects foul play by the Pydarki.’ Adhamh’s voice slipped effortlessly into her mind and she accepted his presence because this felt…right.
‘Really? Why is that?’ she asked.
‘Something that the Capitan had said to Peana before he disappeared. The Lieutenant has the Tracker, Hanton, chasing up his Pydarki contacts to see if he can find out anything.’
‘Which means that when we leave here, we will be leaving the Southerners- the Suenese – behind.’
‘Yes. As Kral told you, the Hatar Kalar are coming with you. Harada and Samar, our flight Commanders, would flay the skin off Kral’s back if he came back without you.’
‘Really? Are they like that with all missing soldiers?’
‘I don’t know. You are the first Hatar Kalar to go missing in a Dragon’s Age so I have no past history to judge this by.’ Adhamh mentally sighed. ‘All I can tell you is that you are important to Harada and others and that they will do anything to ensure you are safe…I will do anything to ensure you are safe. I say this not because of our Krytal link, but because you are like a sister to me, I have watched you grow into the person you are now and I want to see what you become. We are a team, a family and I plan never to leave you again.’
The conversation was taking an uncomfortable turn, even though Dearen felt a flood of gratitude for Adhamh’s words wash over her. She turned her attention back to the man across the room.
“Very well Lieutenant. I wish you success in your hunt.”
Dalon gave her a curt nod and went back to what he was doing.
“I take it you’ve already worked out what we are to do next then?” Tayme asked dragging her attention back to him.
Dearen leaned back in her chair. “Yes. We are going to join the other Dymarki at the Mustering grounds. We will then gather to meet the Northerners at Hatten’s Field. How they greet us will determine what course of action we take from there.”
“What about this renegade Arranian group? What if they try something? The information we have intimated that they are going to.” Tayme shrugged and reached across the table to grab a handful of shelled nuts from a small bowl. Slouching back in his chair, he then used his thumb to quickly flick each piece into his mouth to eat.
The action caught Dearen off guard. Tayme had done it without thinking as he waited for her to answer…but seeing it now abruptly bought a vivid memory searing into her mind. They were both in someone’s room. It was plain, utilitarian with a bed, desk littered with books, chair, trunk and a large brazier standing in the far corner. Her room from the feel of it. She was sitting on the bed dressed in the same black uniform that Tayme wore now. He was leaning against the small desk eating from a bowl. It was fruit balls this time and not nuts. She felt happy and he was smiling…
“Dearen? Did you hear me?”
She blinked rapidly, startled out of her memory. “Sorry? What?” Tayme was now leaning towards her, a puzzled frown marring his handsome features.
“I said did you hear me?”
“Ah…Yes…the rogue Arranians…” Dearen’s voice trailed away as more memories popped into her head, triggered by the first. She was outside with Tayme and a blonde man, around them stood Adhamh, Trar and a blue Hatar called…Motta?
“Motta?” Tayme repeated.
Dearen’s eyes widened. She hadn’t realized that she’d said that aloud. But Tayme recognized the name.
“Motta’s probably off nagging Holm about getting out of bed to come and pick ticks from beneath her wing pits or something-“ Tayme’s voice suddenly broke off as he now looked at her with shrewd eyes. “I’ve not told you about Holm or Motta and I don’t think Adhamh or Trar have either.”
“They haven’t. I just…”
“Remembered them?”
“And you. I remembered you. Standing in my room eating the fruit balls I swiped from the refectory kitchens…I remember doing that…” Dearen’s voice dropped as the memory came again to her along with the taste of fruit balls on her tongue.
‘Dearen, are you all right?’ Hauga’s voice slipped into her mind, worried but calm.
‘I’m fine Hauga. I’m fine.’
“You were always taking the fruit balls. You like the taste of dried apricots, honey and sesame seed. Plus they were perfect to throw at Holm’s head if you wanted to wake him up.”
“Yes…And he would eat the balls afterward because he knew it revolted me,” Dearen murmured as the memory formed in her mind.
“Yeah, I never cared much for that either. I slept in the same room with him for a while so I know how often he washes his hair.”
“That would explain the smell then.” The words automatically came to her and Dearen covered
her mouth with the palm of her hand, shocked at how familiar that sounded.
‘Dearen, how are you feeling? Are you okay? You shouldn’t let Kral push you.’ Adhamh’s voice popped into her head and was filled with worry.
‘He’s not pushing me…I think I’m beginning to remember my past.’
‘Dearen-‘
Adhamh’s voice was abruptly cut off as the muscles behind her ear began to violently twitch and Dearen thought she could feel something vibrating hard against her skull. She clamped both hands hard to the back of her head and squeezed her eyes shut as the pain began to lance through from her eyeballs to the base of her neck.
‘Dearen?’
It was Hauga. She could feel his large, warm, gentle hand against her shoulder. But she couldn’t move or reply. The vibration was growing, getting worse and now a loud buzzing grew like an echo in her ears. A mental cry of anguish cut through Dearen’s head and she recognized it as Adhamh, now feeling the same pain as she. The only thing they had in common with each other was the crystals.
The Krytal Crystals.
Vague over her own pain, Dearen was aware of a new flood of mind voices, Trar, Hauga, Raga, Tayme’s, all crashing and breaking around her like sea foam on a wave thrown against the rocks on the coast. The feeling in her head began to pulse in time with these voices, retreating and charging, until with one last tremendous rush it broke through the dark barriers at the back of her mind making them crumble and disappear like beach sand and freed what was trapped behind them.
A flood of memories spilled out from the breach and washed back to their homes in her mind, and her brain gagged on the torrent of information pouring into her. But out of all the images and voices flooding into her mind, she now knew one thing for sure. The Southerners had not been lying to her.