Chaos

by Johansen, Iris

  “I can imagine,” Alisa said dryly. “Just listen, don’t dig. Okay?”

  “If you’ll do some probing of your own.” She’d remembered something Alisa had said. “I’m caught in this place and Gilroy can’t help me because he can’t leave, either. But you said you walked twelve miles today. You can find out for me.”

  “Find out what?”

  “The horses,” she said simply. “Ever since Masenak started threatening them, I realized that he’d use the horses as hostages just as he used those students. At any sign that I was resisting, the first thing he’d do would be to start killing my horses. He already threatened Zeus because I mentioned he was the first horse I ever rode. Chaos might be safer than the others, but there’s no telling what he’d do if he was angry enough. I have to find a place to send them away from Jubaldar if I need to. I can’t do it myself so it will have to be you.” She paused. “If you’ll do it, Alisa.”

  “You know I will. I’d already figured out that Chaos would be on the list of refugees. What’s four more? I can assign Juno and Margaret to finding a safety net for them. I’ll get back to you when I can tell you how we’ll work it out.” She hesitated. “Korgan needs to talk to Gilroy now about the setup and scheduling at the castle. I won’t call you unless it’s an extreme emergency. It’s safer if you call me.”

  “It will be tomorrow evening. Masenak said he wanted to Skype Reardon tomorrow and show me to him on Chaos. Maybe I’ll have more to tell you.”

  “No probing.”

  “No, I’d have to be more careful with Reardon. In a way, I think he could be worse than Masenak. There’s something about him…It’s good that Chaos is fast enough to leave Nightshade at the gate. No probing, but I’ll definitely listen.” She paused. “I love you. Take care. Pay attention to Korgan and don’t overdo it.”

  “You can hardly keep from paying attention to Korgan—as you’ll find out when you meet him. I love you, too. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Sasha handed the phone to Gilroy. “Korgan wants to talk to you.”

  He took the phone. “Probably more an interrogation.”

  And he was listening more than speaking, Sasha noticed, which was probably unusual for him, and indicated an impressive amount of respect for Korgan. It was just as well. She wanted a few moments to catch her breath and get over the emotional trauma she’d experienced while talking to Alisa. She sank down on the floor and leaned back against the door of Chaos’s stall. She’d known Alisa would come to her rescue where the horses were concerned. Not only did she care for them, but she would realize they’d be an automatic stumbling block to anything positive Sasha could do. But she’d hated having to throw another burden on Alisa in this situation, which was already difficult. No choice. Sasha would do what she could to make up for it. But innocents must always be protected from evil. And no one was more evil than Masenak…except perhaps Reardon. She would have to see.

  She felt something moist and familiar nuzzling at the back of her neck.

  Chaos. Reaching out in an unusual gesture of affection.

  She lifted her arm, and her fingers rubbed his muzzle. I’m not at all sure you’re one of these innocents I was thinking about, but I’ll protect you anyway.

  Nonsense. You’re the weak one. I need no protection. Innocent? What is that?

  I didn’t think you’d understand that concept. But understand or not, I think you have to be included.

  You’re doing very strange things lately. Why did I have to buck you off today?

  Perhaps to prove that you’re not innocent to the evil ones. You did it very well and didn’t hurt me.

  He liked that answer. To make them fear me.

  Or make them not fear me.

  He didn’t like that one at all. Very strange things. He was nuzzling her neck again. I don’t know why I put up with such stupidity.

  Neither do I. You’re very patient. As a king should be.

  Yes, I am.

  “Both of you look like you’re half asleep.” Gilroy was chuckling as he hung up the phone and came toward her. “That’s the first time I’ve seen Chaos this mellow.”

  “He has his moments.” She gave Chaos a final pat and got to her feet. “Not many. And he always wants them appreciated.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Typical male response. But I agree with you. I always let Chaos know that any signs of softness please me.”

  “Will it help to break him?”

  “I told you that he can’t be broken. It would mean a crushing of spirit and telling him that he has to serve me. That’s been the role of horses all through the centuries. I’d never ask it of him.” She took Chaos’s empty water bucket and strode toward the pump at the end of the aisle. “But a polite suggestion, friend-to-friend, might make him forget all the ugliness and rage now and then. It’s what I’ve been trying to do ever since Alisa bought him from Rossi for me.” She was pumping the water. “I was making progress during the month I had him at St. Eldon’s, but then Masenak took him and he forgot everything he’d learned. All the hate came back, and I had to start over.”

  “‘Hate’ is a strong word.”

  “Rossi shot Chaos’s mother. It wasn’t malicious. She and the colt were in the field and she tried to jump the fence. It was too high for her and she broke her leg. But Chaos saw Rossi shoot her and he’s never forgotten.”

  “Or forgiven?”

  She nodded. “It was his mother. Rossi knew how intelligent Chaos was, and he should have realized that he’d associate her death with him and any other person who came near him. Rossi was in too much of a hurry to start training him, and he paid the price. He ended up with a broken back. That’s when he gave up and agreed to sell him to Alisa.”

  “But Chaos didn’t blame you?”

  “I was there with his mother when he was born, and that evidently put me in a special category. But it still took weeks for him to start getting close to me again.” The bucket was full, and she stopped pumping and lifted it to take back to the stall. Gilroy stepped forward to take it from her, and she gazed at him incredulously. “Really? I’ve been toting these buckets almost from the time I was a toddler.”

  “Forgive me.” He held up his hands. “I’m sure it was very good exercise. I forgot myself.”

  She suddenly smiled brilliantly. “I do forgive you. You kept your word and brought me that phone.”

  “Two phones, two revolvers, and ammunition. Korgan’s going to slip a Remington rifle into that shed later that I might need for distance shots.” He grimaced. “And you used the phone to try to set up an escape for your horses. That wasn’t what I had in mind when I gave it to you.”

  “Well, someone had to do it, and neither of us could go hunting for a place where they’d be safe.” She added, “What did Korgan want from you?”

  “A complete schedule and estimate of personnel in Masenak’s little army here. When and where the guards were stationed. I told him there might be changes once Reardon got here. He wants those changes as well.” He frowned. “He mentioned that Director Lakewood might be a problem that we’ll have to deal with sooner rather than later. I didn’t like the sound of that.”

  “Then you should go take care of it yourself. I’m sure you don’t have enough to do here at Jubaldar.”

  “Sarcasm, again.”

  “A little. I actually think Alisa will be able to handle her boss if there’s need. Surely he’ll help if he sees any threat.”

  “He might not know how extreme the threat could be. Or feel a little too eager to squash the threat and ignore any victims.” He shrugged. “But Korgan will take care of him.”

  “I’m not concerned with Korgan at the moment.” She set down the bucket at Chaos’s stall. “Give me the phones and the guns. We’ve got to hide them.”

  He took the phones out of his jacket pocket and handed them to her. “With Chaos as guard?” He was scowling as he also pulled out the two guns from his jacket and gave them to her.
“I still don’t like the idea.”

  “You will. You know it’s the safest place.” She put the phones and guns in a burlap feed bag and opened the door of the stall. “Once you become accustomed to each other.”

  “Dogs like me. I’m not sure about horses. The most I can say is that none of the horses has kicked me when I was cleaning out the stalls since I’ve been here.” He was gazing warily at Chaos. “That’s not exactly conclusive. Rather than chance it, I’m willing to let you be sole custodian.”

  She shook her head. “Just give me fifteen or twenty minutes alone with Chaos to explain what we’re doing and then I’ll let the two of you get to know each other.”

  “I can hardly wait,” he said dryly.

  “It will be fine. Would I let anything happen to you? I need you. I even like you.” She drew a deep breath as she entered the stall. As Gilroy had noticed, Chaos seemed mellow tonight. If she was persuasive and played on what she knew of the stallion, this might work out. But she’d still better stay very, very close in case it didn’t.

  Chaos, my friend, I have something I want you to guard for me. I wouldn’t trust it to anyone but the king you are because those fools wish to take it and hurt me. She paused and then went on quickly. However, there’s one other thing you should know that you might not entirely like…

  She had to stay with Chaos over an hour instead of the twenty minutes she’d told Gilroy would be necessary. “I think it will be okay,” she said as she left the stall. “But it’s up to you if you want to risk it. These days Chaos doesn’t trust anyone but me, and he’s very protective. He doesn’t have a hell of a lot of respect for my ability to do it myself. I’ve told him that I’ve chosen you to take care of me whenever he’s not around, because you’re brave and will stomp on anyone who tries to harm me.”

  “Stomp?”

  “He respects stomping.”

  “I see.”

  “In the end, what it will come down to is if Chaos believes I’m smart enough to be a good judge of your qualifications in that arena.”

  “Is there an audition for this stomping?”

  “Lord, I hope not.” She shook her head. “Stop joking. It could work out fine, or you could end up dead if I don’t get to you in time.”

  “Well, we’d better see which it’s going to be.” He reached out and slowly opened the stall door. “Where did you put the burlap bag?”

  “Underneath the straw between his front two hooves. I thought it would be better if he could see you at all times. He’d feel more secure.”

  “By all means, let’s not make him nervous.” He looked the stallion directly in the eyes as he edged past him into the stall. “One of us is enough.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “But you were right, it’s the best way.” He was suddenly smiling recklessly. “Now hush, I’ve got to concentrate on being friendly yet absolutely unstompable. I wouldn’t want to destroy your reputation with him.” He was at the far side of the stall now and slowly slid down to sit on the straw. “Okay, we’re in this together, Chaos,” he murmured. “I don’t mind being a stand-in for you.” He reached out and slowly placed his hand protectively on top of the straw-covered bag. Chaos had turned his head and was glaring at him. “I’m not taking my hand away. While I’m in here, it’s my job to protect it, too. I’ll just sit here for a while and let you get used to it.” He leaned his head back against the wall. “See? No threat.” His gaze shifted to Sasha. “It’s late and I have to get out of here. I can’t give it more than forty-five minutes. I’m hoping that may be enough. I’d appreciate it if you’d stick around to warn me if you think that I’m going to end up decorating this stall with my life’s blood before that time.”

  “I don’t think you will,” she whispered. “But I can’t read him right now. I believe he’s confused. And he can be…impulsive.”

  “I’ll take that into consideration.” He gazed back at Chaos. “And as you know, I can’t read him at all, so I’m in your hands. But then so is Chaos, and that means we have common ground. Maybe he’ll sense that and let me get out of here with bones and head intact.”

  “Maybe.” She moistened her lips. “But it’s going to be a long forty-five minutes.”

  “Nah, it will pass in a heartbeat. I’m sure you persuaded him what a fantastic addition I’ll be. Relax. He only has to get used to the idea.”

  She gazed at him skeptically. Pass in a heartbeat?

  It seemed more like hours watching him sitting there, Chaos towering over him, before she saw him pat the feed bag and re-cover it with straw. Then slowly, very slowly, he stood up.

  Chaos’s muscles were tensing.

  “Gilroy!”

  “Leave me alone. I’ve gotten this far. Let me do it myself.” Gilroy was edging around Chaos again until he stood with his back to the door, facing him. “We’ve done it, Chaos. Not so bad, was it? I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care of her.” Then he was out of the stall and shutting the door. He quickly walked a few yards away before looking back at Sasha. “How close was it?”

  “I have no idea.” She shrugged. “Pretty close right before you left him.” She smiled wryly. “But maybe he decided he liked you and didn’t want you to go.”

  “Yeah, and pigs can fly.”

  “Maybe they can, I’ll have to ask Margaret the next time I see her.” She added, “But I’m cautiously optimistic about everything at the moment. That’s not how the day started out, so I’ll take it.”

  “You were worried about that Skype with Reardon tomorrow.”

  She nodded curtly. “I don’t believe I can find a way to stall Masenak. I’ll have to see.” She drew a deep breath and lifted her chin. “But I have to look on the bright side. I talked to Alisa today, and she’s well and going to help save the horses. That’s all good. And Chaos might even begin to like you and not try to kill you. I’d say that’s very good, too.”

  “I agree.” He was smiling over his shoulder as he moved toward the door. “I particularly like the bit about him not killing me. So tomorrow can’t be all that bad, either. Good night, Sasha.” The next moment, the door shut behind him.

  She turned away and went back to Chaos’s stall. She was exhausted. She’d try to get to sleep and then wake early and go shower. She wanted to be alert for whatever she was going to have to face with Masenak and Reardon.

  Because she was almost sure there wasn’t going to be any bright side to be found tomorrow no matter how much she searched.

  * * *

  “She wants you to save the horses?” Korgan asked Alisa after he’d cut the connection after talking to Gilroy. “You can’t say your Sasha isn’t consistent.”

  “Of course she is,” Alisa said jerkily. “That’s been her mantra since the day I met her. Don’t think about me, I’ll be fine, save the innocents. That’s why I knew I had to find a way to get those four horses away from Zeppo or she’d never leave that damn circus.” Her lips twisted. “And then when I thought I had her safe, she found some other innocents to save at St. Eldon’s.”

  “Deplorable,” he said lightly. “Why on earth didn’t she follow your example and be completely selfish?”

  “I was selfish,” she said impatiently. “I wanted Zeppo to lose his meal ticket, and I wanted to see her happy. I did what I had to do to get what I wanted.”

  “There’s something slightly askew in your logic.” He waved his hand. “But I’ll let it go for now. You made a promise. I have to fulfill it. Do you have any idea how I can do that?”

  She shook her head. “It was my promise.”

  “I told you that I was in this all the way. This is what you want.” He was frowning thoughtfully. “You said you were going to ask Margaret to help find a place to stash the horses and keep them safe. That might prove a kind of a massive operation if you’re thinking of kidnapping Chaos along with them. It’s a better idea to concentrate only on the four horses she thinks are threatened, and then not move them until the last minute so tha
t it’s unlikely there will be a search for them. She believes Chaos is too valuable for Masenak to hurt?”

  She nodded. “It wouldn’t make sense for him to kill him. He’d have to be crazy.”

  “There’s evidence of that possibility, too,” he said grimly. “But I think there’s too much self-interest involved to let it come to the forefront. So we just have to remove the other four horses so that Sasha is free to take care of Chaos.”

  “Which is like moving a small herd,” she said sarcastically. “No problem.”

  “A beautifully well-trained herd,” he reminded her. “Not like Chaos. Which also means that they’d presumably be obedient to anyone who knew what they were doing around horses.”

  “Gilroy?”

  “Not on his résumé. That’s one of the reasons why we had to send Naleek with him—to make sure he didn’t screw up when he was working in the stable.” He was frowning. “And we’ll need more than Naleek if we have to move those horses quickly and silently out of the stables. It would have to go absolutely smoothly.”

  “I can do it.” She leaned forward. “And I’m pretty good. No one could live with Sasha and not know how to ride.”

  “We might have to use you.” He added grimly, “But I’d rather not be put in a position where I’d have to ransom you instead of one of those horses. I think I’ll pay a visit to Samlir tomorrow and get the council to give me a few volunteers. It should only cost an arm and a leg.”

  “How will you get back there?”

  “I’ll hike down to the area where we parked the Land Rover and drive it to where it will be safe for the helicopter to pick me up. I should be back by tomorrow night.”

  “Can’t you phone someone in the council?”

  “Not if I want it done. Those are tough negotiators. I know about bargainers.”