Right.
First, though, they had to cross the Dastanar/Bermau border. They climbed to the top of a bluff overlooking the crossing.
Brant stared through one of their spyglasses. “It doesn’t look good.”
The crossing was a wooden bridge built over a huge canyon. Stone fortresses stood at each end, with thick walls facing the opposite country. Soldiers lined the walls, staring at the other side. Posturing.
“You sure you don’t want to leave her behind, sir?” Stokes said.
The forged paperwork declared the three men to be wealthy Bermauese merchants, and Ivie to be Brant’s wife. Since Dastanar encouraged trade, the men could easily pass over the border, and once inside, the documents would protect the entire party from any patrols they encountered. What the kingdom didn’t like, though, was its citizens leaving, especially not defecting to marry foreigners. With her accent, Ivie would have a tough time getting through the checkpoint.
Brant gritted his teeth. He would not leave an enemy death mage, even a young, pretty one, unguarded. “I’ve already given you my order. She’s coming with us.”
Stokes’ face showed his opinion of the choice. “Yes, sir. We’ll have to sneak across using smugglers’ trails, then. Lots of climbing. Slow moving.”
Barius’ soldiers patrolled to keep citizens from sneaking out, and according to both Ivie and Stokes, most were caught and never heard from again.
“Uh, master,” Ivie said, “may I speak to you privately?”
Brant nodded to the men, and she followed him until he stopped out of earshot.
“I understand why you’re reluctant to leave me,” she said. “In your shoes, I would be, too. If it helps, though, I give you my word, on my honor, that I will make no move against you and that I will wait for you.”
Brant exhaled slowly. “I want to trust you. I really do. If it was only my life at stake, I would, but I can’t risk my men no matter how I feel. I just can’t.”
“But is leaving me behind the greater risk? Sneaking across the border with me versus simply walking across without me?” she said. “If you get caught, it’s all our heads.”
He grimaced. “Sorry, but I’ve made my decision.”
“Look, you’re not an onerous master. You could ask me to do anything and I’d have no choice. Instead, you’ve been fair and honorable. Much better than I had any right to expect. From everything I’ve seen, you’re a good man.”
“Ivie—”
“Dastanar’s rulers aren’t good men. Even if they were, I’m an escaped slave in their eyes, and the circumstances don’t matter to them. If they find me, they will kill me.” She met his eyes. “Master, please believe me. I have no reason to betray you. Truly.”
“I do believe you.” Brant paused. He hated that he was dragging her with him on a dangerous mission. Even worse, he hated that she felt risking her life with him was much better than what she’d left. But she was an enemy mage. She couldn’t be allowed to roam free. Period. “Let’s just get through this together, okay? Someday, somehow, I’ll find us a way out of this mess.”
“Yes, master.”
As usual, he couldn’t read her expression. Was she sad? Angry? Scared? Whichever, there wasn’t much he could do about it.
They returned to Stokes and Raleigh and waited until nightfall. Under the cover of darkness, they snuck to the head of a path well away from the Bermauese fortress. Of course, entering the canyon wasn’t the real problem. Evading Dastanar’s patrols was.
Brant expected Ivie to be a weak link since she had neither the muscles nor the training the men had. Instead, Ivie scurried up and down mountains as if born to them, handling her slight frame with less exertion than the much larger men. When it was necessary to free climb to anchor a rope for the rest of the team, Stokes chose her to do it.
At the end of the night, Raleigh silently drifted away to scout the area while the rest settled into the shade of a rock ledge to wait out the day. Brant smiled. His decision to bring her hadn’t been a complete disaster. He found himself proud of her.
Raleigh returned about a half hour later and used hand signals to report. /Six men. Wearing black. Headed toward us./
Brant narrowed his eyes. A fight would attract notice. If they were caught, they’d be killed.
47.
Brant grabbed Ivie’s arm.
To her credit, she didn’t make a sound. He pointed at a dark crevice just big enough for her body. She nodded and slid in. Perfect. Deep in the shadows, no one would ever know she was there.
Both Stokes and Raleigh could blend into a dry riverbed at high noon on a sunny day, so Brant only had to worry about himself. His best option, though a poor one by any stretch, was a rock that abutted a sheer face, but there wasn’t enough room behind it to hide him completely. He wedged himself between it and the wall, shielding him from view from the direction the other group would be traveling.
Dawn approached, bringing brightening sunlight. Despite the dark material, his shirt seemed to shine like a beacon. He quietly rubbed red dirt over the exposed side. With any luck, the dirt would camouflage the black cloth so that eyes drifted past him. If not, he held his sword at the ready, already blackened to dull the metal’s shine.
Fighting was a horrible option, though. There was little chance of taking out his opponents fast enough to avoid drawing attention from the fortress. He just had to hope they didn’t spot him.
He schooled his pounding heart and breathed quietly. Watching. Listening.
Worse than his life depending on a wish was the waiting. Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Thirty.
Was the other group even coming?
He wanted to get up from his hiding spot, but neither Raleigh nor Stokes had moved.
Finally, Brant heard quiet rustling, and the noises drew closer.
Whoever the group was, they were good. Impossible to make less noise than they did while still moving. It took a full five minutes for them to come into sight.
Five figures wore strange black uniforms that covered even their faces. The sixth was different, leaving the man’s face bare.
Brant recognized that last uniform. A mage.
If the guy was a mage type that could sense life or heat or anything else that could magically find hidden people, Brant and his team were sunk. There’d be no way to escape notice. They’d be killed.
He tensed, his taut muscles ready to spring into action and his magic ready to block the enemy mage.
Instead, the black-clad figures passed, barely making a sound and communicating only with hand signals. Great discipline, even better than Brant and his team had been following. He definitely needed to step it up.
When the group disappeared around a curve in the path, he let out a long breath. Either the guy wasn’t a death mage, or he wasn’t paying attention.
Another ten minutes passed. There was no sign that the group would return. They’d given no indication of backtracking. No noises came from the direction they’d went.
Nothing.
But it was important to be careful. Brant just wished caution didn’t take so long.
Finally, Raleigh appeared from behind a small shrub and motioned for the others to join him. They huddled close, so they could talk without their voices carrying.
“One was a mage,” Brant said. “Anyone know anything about the ones with the masks?”
“Assassins,” Ivie said, when no one else spoke.
Both Raleigh and Stokes looked at her. A handmaid who somehow had escaped from Dastanar and found work for an important count in Truna probably wouldn’t know about secret assassins, but she hadn’t much of a choice. Brant needed that information.
“They could be targeting the duke or the queen,” Brant said. “We have to try to find out.”
Stokes nodded. “Raleigh and I will go.”
“No,” Brant said. “I’ll go. You stay with Ivie.”
She shot him an irritated glare.
What? Oh, she was afraid Stokes would start grilling
her.
Hmm.
If Stokes was suspicious, he’d eventually find out who Ivie was, and as much as Brant didn’t want that to happen, he’d just have to deal with it when it came up.
He waved off her concern. “Let’s go, Raleigh.”
With sun almost risen, the assassins would probably settle for the day before going much farther. That was good. Less distance to track meant less chance for mistakes.
On the other hand, the light meant Brant and Raleigh would have a harder time moving without being seen by spyglasses at the fortress. They were forced to travel slowly, melding from shadow to shadow.
As it turned to full light, they neared the edge of a crestline. Raleigh dropped to the ground and covered himself head to toe in red dust, and Brant copied the movements. Without disturbing a speck of dirt on himself, Raleigh quickly brushed a few spots Brant had missed before resuming travel.
They reached an open area with no cover, and Raleigh dropped to a crawl. Brant followed. The next dozen yards took an hour.
Raleigh halted abruptly, and Brant again copied the older man.
After a few minutes, a figure in black stepped from shadows ahead and continued further up the path. They waited a long time, not moving a muscle, before proceeding.
Raleigh stopped near a cliff and rose slightly, listening. /Stay here./
He disappeared over the ledge and didn’t return until early afternoon. Using hand signals, he told Brant the assassins were in a shallow cave set in the rock wall.
Raleigh pointed to rocks above them. /Climb./
Great. If there was one thing worse than climbing, it was climbing in the open. At the rate they moved, Brant feared full dark would fall before they got back to camp.
When Raleigh repelled to a ledge, two hours had passed. He gestured to a hole and cupped his hand behind his ear.
Brant laid down and put his head near the hole. Was that humming coming from below? Low, but definitely humming. And bad, tuneless humming at that.
The sound just went on and on and on. The sun neared the horizon. There was no way they’d make it back to Ivie before sun down, which meant no sleep for Brant. And all to listen to ceaseless blasted humming.
“For the love of the Holy One,” a voice finally said, “will you please stop that!”
Brant started. Though he hadn’t made a sound, Raleigh glared at him.
/Sorry./ Brant gestured.
The humming stopped, at least.
“So you can talk,” a voice said. “I was beginning to wonder.”
“Missions require silence,” the first voice said. “A fact you should heed. No noise of any kind.”
A harsh laugh.
“It wasn’t my choice to be here,” the hummer said. “I don’t even know what use I am to you. It’s not like I can burn a wizard to death.”
The overheard conversation gave Brant the information he needed. He gestured for Raleigh to leave. The return trip, at least, only took three hours. They arrived back just after the sun set.
“Xan is the target,” Brant said. “Good thing the mage is an alchemist. He won’t detect us sneaking up on them.”
“You mean to go after them, master?”
“Of course.”
“Why?” Ivie said.
“They want to kill Xan.” Brant paused, thinking about the best way to attack. “They’re probably asleep now. Taking them out will be easy, but we need to move fast.”
“Uh sir,” Stokes said, “isn’t the wizard an enemy of our lord?”
“Well, yes, but …” Brant frowned.
The duke had ordered Xan killed. Duty required letting the assassins proceed.
But Xan was a friend. How was it right to just let him be attacked?
“Fine,” Brant said. “We continue toward Bodbridge Hold.”
48.
Ashley’s deft fingers flew over her fabric in a blur.
Three weeks. Three blasted weeks. Sitting. Doing needlepoint. Not accomplishing anything in pursuit of her goal. Unless, of course, ornately-crafted scenes of nature could somehow help her become ruler of the three kingdoms.
Probably not.
The queen had declared mages were to be recruited. The entire army examined for anyone with ability. A force built to be more powerful than any in existence. Ashley had assumed she, Tasia, and Lainey would start testing immediately.
Instead … nothing.
While someone—likely Xan—used phenomenal amounts of magic somewhere to the southwest, Ashley was stuck in a room with Tasia and Lainey, drinking tea and embroidering pillows. Given the time noblewomen spent at the task, Ashley couldn’t conceive of there being a piece of cloth in existence not adorned with blasted flowers.
She gathered everything in her lap and flung the bundle across the room. Needles hit the wall with an unsatisfying clink. Thread and fabric fluttered to the floor.
“Enough!” She burst to her feet. “Queen Anna needs to make a move instead of sitting on her hands until events overwhelm us. I shall go to Duke Macias. With him as an ally, she will surely listen.”
“I’ve told you before,” Tasia said, “you can’t trust him.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Just because you don’t like him—”
“It’s not just me!” Tasia shouted. “You’ve not been his subject. I have. No one likes him.”
“Wow.” Ashley feigned a gasp. “The commoners are upset with their duke. How bizarre. I’ve never heard of that happening with any noble ever. It’s not like even my father is occasionally protested.” She paused. “Oh. Wait.”
“Good grief but you’re pigheaded!” Tasia said. “What about your mother?”
“Yes, what about her? Do you have anything besides vague, whispered rumors you only half remember?” Ashley waited until Tasia frowned. “I didn’t think so.”
Lainey sighed. “How many times are the two of you going to have the same argument? Both points are valid.” She turned to Tasia. “There’s no other way for Lady Ashley to save Xan.” Lainey paused and glanced at Ashley. “But I’m sure she’ll proceed cautiously and watch for any signs of treachery.”
Ashley scowled. How dare a mere peasant give her instruction! She bit the inside of her tongue to keep from speaking, though. Tasia had quieted, and winning the argument was more important than correcting Lainey’s behavior. For the moment, anyway.
While the other two girls returned to their needlepoint, Ashley left in search of the duke. She couldn’t locate him after hours of traipsing through corridors, though, and rejoined her companions in time for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, a page summoned Ashley to the throne room where Queen Anna, several advisors, Duke Macias, and his son, Norberto, gathered.
“A message came by bird this morning.” The queen’s voice shook with rage. “That … that … wizard … is rebuilding Eye Lake. Declaring himself independent. Challenging my rule.” Her face reddened. “He’s openly recruiting mages, though my spy couldn’t determine how many. And the boy calls himself the Gryphon.”
Ashley bit back a smile. Not only was it confirmed that Xan was alive, but he was doing much better for himself than she could have imagined. Controlling the traditional home of magic users and taking a wizard name gave him instant legitimacy as a force in the three kingdoms. Brilliant strokes.
No wonder Queen Anna was so upset.
“I shall see him hang! Then, I’ll have him drawn and quartered. And burn the leftover pieces.” She paused. “But that’s only three executions. Considering how many capital offenses he’s committed, I should kill him six times.”
Ashley had never seen her so mad.
“Settling Eye Lake is a step too far. I cannot tolerate his open declaration of sovereignty.” The queen paused, reaching her decision. “I shall dispatch the army at once.”
Ashley winced. That move would be a disaster. Xan could kill thousands of men by himself. Add in any mages he’d recruited, and he’d decimate the queen’s entire army. “A gryphon i
s half eagle, your majesty. I know Xan. He’s signaling he’s open to serving the nobles.”
“The beast is also half lion, like the man who rebelled against the crown and laid waste to cities,” the queen said. “The significance does not escape me.”
“Still, your majesty,” Ashley said, “if we can get him on our side, it would be a major advantage against Dastanar.”
“Even were he to repent his transgressions and bow, how could I ever trust a man who could destroy Escon with a thought?”
Duke Macias cleared his throat, and all eyes went to him. “Perhaps the young lady has a point, your majesty. Granted, this Gryphon has broken laws, but he’s made no overt moves against you. He probably doesn’t understand the affront his actions represent. Until we know what forces King Barius has and what his plans are, it would be imprudent to waste a potentially valuable resource.” He smiled. “Besides, one enemy is a problem. Two enemies …”
“Are an opportunity.” The barest hint of a smile crossed Queen Anna’s face before it again showed disapproval. “But will he serve me?”
“He obeyed my father, your majesty,” Ashley said. “Up to a point, anyway, before things turned bad.”
The queen frowned.
“Perhaps, your majesty,” Duke Macias said, “the best course is to send an emissary. If the young man kneels to you, we’ve gained an ally. If he refuses, we’ve lost nothing.”
Queen Anna nodded. “You make a good point.” She paused, deep in thought. “I shall assign Ambassador Poole.”
Ashley grimaced. She knew Poole and couldn’t think of a man less suited to convince Xan to bow. “Since we are familiar with the young man, my ladies-in-waiting and I should accompany the good ambassador on his journey, your majesty.”
“No,” the queen said. “I’d hoped I wouldn’t be forced to break the treaty against magic use, but with a wizard outright recruiting followers and setting up in Eye Lake, I have no choice. You are to begin testing my army for mages immediately.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Ashley said.
On the good side, she’d no longer be stuck in her room doing needlepoint, but the entire fate of the three kingdoms rode on the meeting between Xan and Poole. And she wouldn’t be in a position to influence events at all.
Gryphon (Rise of the Mages Book 2) Page 28