Essence of Chaos

by Marie Andreas

  Keanin froze. “What was that? I heard something.”

  Jenna slowed down and tried to listen, but she heard nothing. Keanin’s sharp intake of breath told her he still did.

  “Storm, Edgar. Back here.” She whispered as loudly as she felt safe. Keanin might not be happy about being on this trip, but he certainly wasn’t going to start making things up. And, like all kelars, his hearing was exceptional.

  Storm and Edgar turned around sharply, both keeping their hands on their sword hilts.

  “What is it?” Storm said softly when they got close.

  Jenna gestured behind them. “Keanin heard something behind us.”

  “Could it be Crell?” Edgar whispered from the darkness.

  “I doubt it; it’s too early, but we are almost at the meeting spot,” Storm said as he nodded to Edgar. “But we should see who is making that much noise. You two stay here.”

  Keanin and Jenna waited, standing back-to-back and peering into the darkness. It was times like these that she envied the kelars for their superior sight; straining to see into the darkness was doing nothing for her nerves.

  Finally, a group of about twenty people approached. As they moved closer, it appeared that they were palace guards. However, since she’d been in two supposedly safe castles where grievous fighting occurred, Jenna wasn’t willing to trust appearances anymore.

  Then Storm and Edgar came forward, wrapped up in an argument with a tall guard captain.

  Storm stepped into the center of the dark clearing. “I think we should stay here a while. At least until sunrise. It’s too far for us to go tonight, whichever direction we go,” he said pointedly to the man he’d been arguing with. Then he turned and began gathering firewood. Although dawn was not far away, it would be impossible to set up any type of camp without some light.

  Once they got a small fire going, Edgar and Storm continued their argument with the captain.

  Keanin gasped as the troops moved into the firelight. Directly across from him was the soldier, Marta, who tried to seduce him on their tour of the city a month ago.

  “Oh no.” He turned to Jenna with a dismayed face. “Jenna, you’ve got to convince Corin to send me back. I can’t travel around with that woman after me.”

  Jenna spared a glance for the embattled Storm and Edgar. “I think we may not have a choice. I’ve no idea how they found us out so quickly, but I’ll wager that none of them get much sleep tonight.”

  “Oh, stars. Hide me.” Keanin practically jumped into Jenna’s shadow. He looked rather ridiculous as he topped her by over a foot.

  “My lady, my captain bids me to make you and your companion comfortable. I’ve set up sleeping quarters for the two of you off to the side.” Marta’s smile was polite, but she showed no recognition of Jenna. “This way, if you please.”

  Keanin peeked out from behind Jenna. His face was half visible in the firelight, but Marta didn’t seem to recognize him either.

  “My lord?” she said hesitantly, as if unsure of how to treat a belligerent noble. “I assure you, we will not harm you. It will be much warmer where we’ve set your bed. I’ll wager a pint, they won’t have figured out what to do until far after daybreak.” She finally noticed the odd way Keanin was looking at her. “Do I know you, my lord?”

  “You don’t recognize me?” Keanin said as he came out fully into the firelight.

  The soldier shrugged. “I do not. But I haven’t been part of the palace guard very long. Previously I was of the seventh regiment. Might I know your name?”

  Keanin drew closer. “Keanin. You don’t remember me from the tavern a few weeks ago?”

  She shook her head, “A few weeks ago? What was a lord doing in a tavern? I’m sorry, my lord, I truly don’t know you. But will you come take your bed? The captain hates it when people don’t do what he thinks they should.”

  Keanin looked like a landed fish. Jenna stepped in front of him. “We would be more than happy to collapse anywhere you say. And thank you for setting it up for us.” She latched on to Keanin’s sleeve. “Come on, Keanin, thank the nice soldier, and let’s go to sleep. I’m sure tomorrow’s going to be another horrifically long day.”

  Keanin sputtered along behind her. Finally, when they were both set up in their bedrolls, he turned to Jenna. “She’s faking it, that’s all.”

  Jenna was already drifting off and turned back to him sluggishly. “What? Oh, Marta. Face it Keanin, you’re not as memorable as you thought you were.” She quickly slid into sleep, forestalling any further conversation.

  Nearby, Storm and Edgar weren’t having much luck with the captain. “Look,” Edgar stifled a yawn, “we’re not hurting anybody, and this has to be done. Or do you like fighting off invaders in the heart of your castle? I, for one, do not.”

  “That is not the point, Sir Edgar. And well you know it,” the captain said stiffly. “You didn’t bother to ask the prince.”

  “Of course not. We’ve got one with us. I thought one royal person was enough for such a small group.” The spymaster-knight grinned as he slid a knife free of its wrist sheath and began flipping it in elaborate loops.

  Storm rolled his eyes at his friend’s actions; he did that sort of thing solely to unnerve whomever he was speaking to. “I’m not going back, Kern. You know as well as I that if we go back then nothing will be done about any of this until Resstlin gets up here and they have a dozen meetings on it.” He knew that Kern was following orders, but those orders were wrong.

  Captain Kern shook his head and began to marshal the same arguments he’d used since he’d found them. Storm cut him off. “Before we go through this entire farce of a discussion again, will you answer me one question? How in the bloody stars did you know that we’d left?”

  The dark-haired captain started to shake his head, then shrugged. “I suppose it can’t hurt to tell you. Your mother, the queen. She regained consciousness not too long after midnight. She was frantic with worry that her son was going into danger. No one believed her until we checked and found you missing. When we realized who else was gone, we began our search. We never did see you. Just happened upon you here.”

  Storm nodded and mentally kicked himself. Somewhere in her unconscious mind she must have heard him when he said his farewells. They weren’t going back, and that was final. But he was in no condition to fight at present. And Edgar looked as exhausted as he felt, even if the spymaster hid it well. “We’re not going anywhere at this point. Let’s get some sleep and figure things out in the morning.”

  Captain Kern studied Storm for a few moments and his pinched face grew tighter. “You’re going to have to go back. By force if necessary. Your brother outranks you, and your group of four can’t stand up against my twenty.”

  Storm smiled politely. By morning Crell and her band would be here. The odds would be a bit more even then. “We all must do what we have to do. Good night, Captain.” He and Edgar rose and went to their bedrolls.

  Jenna woke to muffled grunts. Opening one eye, she saw that the camp was under attack. Her gut tightened and she started to pull in Power.

  Opening both eyes, she realized that the palace guards were being pinned down by a familiar looking group of brown and green clad archers and swordsmen.

  “Good of you to join us, Crell.” Storm’s voice came from out of her range of vision, but she didn’t want to move and possibly confuse Crell’s people.

  Storm came up and helped pull her to her feet. Jenna still got up slowly, but it was more due to stiffness rather than concern of becoming a target.

  Storm turned to Captain Kern, who was now tied up. “What were you saying about us going with you by force? I believe we’ve decided that for you.”

  “What happened here? You decided to play with some guards?” Crell looked curiously down at one held near her foot.

  “No, our enthusiastic prince said a bit too much to his mother on her sick bed and the good woman woke up and alerted the troops,” Edgar said. “They were becoming
quite persistent that we go with them.”

  “I don’t like interfering with palace politics, but this time I must insist,” Crell said. “No one here is going with you, Captain Kern. We’ll leave your ropes loose enough so you’ll get free before nightfall, but I can’t have you following too closely.”

  “You’ll have to do more than tie us up, Ki’ Crell. I can’t go back to the royal family and say I discharged my duties so wrongfully.” Kern twisted his bound hands around to a more comfortable position.

  Crell fingered the hilt of her curved sword. “I’ve never taken on palace guards before. I wonder who would win?”

  Jenna felt a familiar, and welcome, tingle in her mind. “Ghortin?”

  “Aye, lass, what’s going on here?”

  She quickly passed on everything that had happened while he was gone, carefully leaving out how worried she was that he’d never make it back.

  “Well, I’ve missed quite a bit. And I do think Tor Ranshal was right about getting this mysterious book of mine. I wish I knew what his other mutterings meant. But that can’t be helped for now. Stand aside, missy, I’ve got to avert bloodshed.”

  “I don’t think there will be any need to test such a thing today, good Ki’ Crell.” Jenna had that strange double voice feeling she got when Ghortin spoke through her.

  “Jenna? What are you doing?” Crell asked.

  “No, I’m afraid you all get to deal with me now. And since, as a mastermage, I outrank everyone here, and quite a few not here, I order all of you to stop this foolishness right now.”

  Captain Kern looked at Jenna with narrowed eyes. “I know they’ve said that Mastermage Ghortin is somehow residing in this young lady’s head, but isn’t this appearance rather sudden? How do we know this isn’t simply the apprentice trying to get rid of us?”

  “Kern, Kern, Kern. Ever the suspicious fellow. You have a mark in the shape of a deer on your left flank and a—”

  The captain flushed. “Enough. I believe you. In a way, I’m glad to hear you, my lord. Please talk some sense into the prince.”

  Jenna’s body turned toward Storm with a shrug. “Nope, won’t work. Believe me, I’ve tried on many occasions.” They turned back to Kern. “Besides, on this, I side with him. We can’t tell you all the reasons, but we must get to Lithunane as soon as possible. I’m sorry to do this, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to commandeer your troop. We’ll send word back to Justlantin, he’ll know it wasn’t your fault.”

  The dark-haired captain sputtered. “But you can’t overrule a prince. And the queen.”

  “Sad to say, yes, I can.” Jenna sensed Ghortin’s smirk and she hoped it wasn’t showing. “In matters of State in which magic has come into play, in this case by attacking the royal family, I can overrule anyone, including the king himself. Convenient little law, actually. Kralin set it up for me when he drew up the charter. I’m surprised Justlantin didn’t realize it when he sent you after us.”

  “Then why didn’t you say anything last night?” The captain’s eyes narrowed again.

  “My dear sir, I don’t take over my poor apprentice every moment of the day. Besides, I truly hoped that you all would be able to settle this without my intervention. But you can’t. So, I’m taking over, and I’m bringing you with us.”

  The captain opened his mouth to argue, but closed it again when one of his men stepped forward; one who was not bound by ropes. Jenna was startled to see that it was Garlan, the Armsmaster.

  “Kern, I’m afraid he’s right. I went along with you on this, but we’ve no choice now but to obey orders.”

  The stunned captain looked from one to the other; finally, he gave in with a sigh. “I turn over myself, eighteen soldiers, and Armsmaster Garlan. What is your will?” He nodded.

  “You shall come with us to Lithunane. I assume that your contingent is comprised of carefully selected, and eminently trustworthy, guards?”

  At Kern’s nod, Ghortin continued. “Nothing that you see, hear, or do can be repeated to anyone outside our present group. Ki’ Crell, that goes for your people as well. I’m not sure what we’ll see on the way down, but I don’t want rumors or panic spreading.”

  Both Kern and Crell nodded.

  “Then let’s get on our way. We’ve a long way to go and speed is of the essence.”

  23

  As soon as everyone accepted the addition of Kern’s group, Ghortin nudged Jenna back to the forefront. She tried to catch him before he disappeared, but he was too fast. With a sigh, she finished stowing her bedroll and went to see how Keanin was doing. The kelar noble was half-finished because he kept watching Marta whenever he thought no one would notice.

  “Has it been this cold the whole time, or did the temperature just drop?” She struggled another tunic on and topped it with her cloak. She didn’t want to bring up the soldier woman again; besides she was startled at how cold she’d become.

  “What?” Keanin jerked his eyes away from Marta. “You probably didn’t notice last night, but it’s been awful since we left the shelter of Irundail.” He darted another glance at the soldier. Fortunately, Marta was busy getting things ready and hadn’t noticed him yet.

  “What’s the matter, can’t you stand being forgotten?”

  Keanin reddened slightly. “I don’t understand it. No woman forgets me, especially after she’s kissed me. There’s something else going on, mark my words.” There was quite a large dose of wounded pride in his voice.

  “Isn’t that a little bit egotistical?” She started helping him with his pack. How he could get it so messed up in one night was beyond her.

  Keanin frowned. “Not at all. It’s factual. She simply must be lying.” He didn’t sound convinced though.

  Jenna laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know this whole thing must be quite a shock to you, but I don’t think she’s acting. Besides, she was extremely drunk that day.”

  “True.” Keanin burst into a beautiful smile. “I hadn’t thought of that. Why, she probably kisses lots of people in that condition and doesn’t remember a single one. Thank you, my lady. I feel much better now.” Whistling, Keanin got his pack together and on his back.

  Storm came over to see how they were doing. “Does Ghortin have any ideas on which way we should go?”

  “He’s vanished again. He didn’t leave any instructions—” She cut herself off as something bubbled to the surface of her mind.

  Whether it was from the echo, Ghortin, or some other source, she wasn’t sure. “Is there a temple of Irissanta nearby?” The urge to go to one was strong.

  Storm nodded slowly. “Yes, out on Cathedral Island. Why?”

  “I can’t explain it, but I think we should go there first.” As soon as she said it, the nagging in her head stopped. Since Ghortin was her primary source of nagging headaches these days, she assumed the idea came from him.

  “It won’t be too far out of the way, and I guess following your hunches is the best plan we have. Besides, it will let us bypass many of the abandoned villages that Edgar and Tor Ranshal faced on the way up. I’ll notify the others.” With a nod to Keanin, Storm went back to the small group of leaders. Even though Ghortin would have final say, Storm was sharing his leadership of the mismatched group with Crell, Kern, and Edgar; it was easier than fighting.

  The collective leaders called a halt a few hours into the trip. Storm and Edgar both claimed they were fine, but Crell still sat them down and made them rest.

  “We’re not going to carry you two oafs the rest of the way because you wore yourselves out during the first full day march; now down with you. We’ll move on when I say so. Unless you think Ghortin would object?” The small warrior looked up at Jenna with a wink.

  “Not at all,” Jenna said, blithely ignoring Storm’s glare. “In fact, I think he’d agree whole heartedly. Especially since it is well known that certain kelars don’t know when they’re tired.”

  Storm vented his frustration on a stray lock of hair hanging over his face, and then
dropped down on a log. Edgar shrugged good-naturedly and sat down to re-wind the splint and bandage on his wrist. There was still some tendon damage that the healers felt should heal naturally. It didn’t seem to slow him down at all though.

  Keanin was grumbling again. Now that his distress over Marta was appeased for the moment, he returned to fretting about their journey.

  “I don’t see what your problem is, Keanin,” Jenna said, finally fed up with his prophecies of doom. “I saw you handle that dagger in the castle.” She gave a nod to the longbow slung over his pack. “And Storm assured me that you are a master with that bow when you want to be.”

  “In tournaments.” Keanin shook his head. “I’ve never been in any type of fighting situation. I’ve never wanted to be. To be quite honest, I’m not completely sure I won’t run off screaming at the first sign of a battle.”

  Jenna looked at him intently. It was obvious that he really feared this. “But you didn’t in Lithunane. Or, as I recall, in Irundail. You weren’t happy, but you held your own.”

  Keanin winced. “Must you remind me? Irundail was the first time I’d ever killed a person.” He gave a shudder. “You don’t know because you’d already blacked out. But once you’d taken out that unholy trio in the royal chambers, I all but fell apart. I managed to pass it off as stress and concern for the queen. But I knew what it was.” He looked up with serious concern filling his eyes. “How do I know that fear won’t take over if something should attack us?”

  Jenna took his hand in hers. She looked at it for a few minutes before speaking. His hand was long and delicate, like most of his race, but it lacked the hardened strength of Storm’s.

  “I don’t think anyone likes fighting.” At his nod toward Storm and Edgar she gave a tight little smile. “No, not even those two. I can’t speak for Sir Edgar, but I think Storm fights because he can’t stand feeling helpless; not because he takes joy in killing.”