Secrets of Blood

by Andy Peloquin

  Hailen’s face scrunched up. “It looked kind of like a hailstorm, but all shining, glowy balls.”

  “Dozens of them.” Briana spoke up. “Orbs of pure light or energy, the same brilliant blue as the artifact itself.” Wonderment filled her eyes as she looked at Hailen. “The power of the Serenii!”

  Dozens?

  For the first time, Aisha looked past the bodies on the floor, toward the far wall of the room. She gasped as she caught sight of the blank sandstone. The entire surface was pocked with black sear marks—easily fifty or sixty of them—and tendrils of heat still curled from a few of the holes.

  Bloody hell!

  “Kodyn!” she called. When the Hawk turned to her, she pointed to the wall. “Look.”

  “Keeper’s teeth!” Evren swore. He stepped quickly away from the table and scrubbed his hand against his pants, as if trying to get as far from the artifact as possible.

  “I-I didn’t mean to do that,” Hailen protested. “I just wanted to stop them from—”

  “No, Hailen,” Evren cut him off with a firm shake of his head. He stepped close to the young boy and placed a strong hand on his shoulder. “You did nothing wrong. The opposite, in fact. You did what you had to in order to protect yourself and Briana.” He shot a look at the seated girl.

  Aisha was surprised at the relief evident in his eyes. She’d expected him to be concerned about Hailen’s safety—he’d called the boy his brother, and his protectiveness over Hailen cemented the bond—but he seemed almost equally worried for Briana.

  Is it possible? She hadn’t seen the two interacting since the day they fled the Gatherer’s attack. A lot can happen in just a few days.

  Warmth surged to her cheeks at the pleasant memory of one of those things that had happened. She’d kissed Kodyn, not once, but twice. An impulsive action, though not one she regretted. In a way, it had felt like the inevitable finally coming to pass. They had been friends, companions, and confidants for so many years—most of Aisha’s life in Praamis, for that matter—that it felt…right.

  She hid a smile and gave Briana’s hand a squeeze. I hope it’s actually true. It would be good for Briana to have someone else interested in her. She had worried for her friend, even after Briana had made it clear that she was happy for Kodyn and Aisha. She deserves a bit of joy, given everything that’s happened.

  “Aisha, Evren.” Kodyn’s voice snapped her from her thoughts.

  Aisha looked up and found Kodyn crouched over the two corpses in the middle of the room. She’d been so focused on Evren and Hailen’s conversation that she hadn’t seen Kodyn move, but the look on his face set worry twisting in her gut.

  “Take a look at this.” Kodyn gestured to the body at his feet.

  Aisha stood but shot a worried glance down at Briana. A bit of color had returned to the girl’s cheeks and the tremor running through her hands had quietened, but she remained shaken.

  To her credit, Briana forced a weak smile. “Go,” she told Aisha. “I-I’m fine. Just need to take a breath.”

  Aisha nodded and released the girl’s hand. Briana had known a great deal of fear in the last few weeks, yet her refusal to let it paralyze her served as a testament to her strength. Aisha would honor her attempt at courage.

  She strode over to Kodyn, who had been joined by Evren.

  “Damn!” Evren swore. “Them again?”

  Aisha’s gut clenched as she saw a familiar symbol inked into the man’s forearm.

  “Gatherers,” she growled.

  “Maybe,” Kodyn said. His brow furrowed, his lips twisted in thought. “But I think it’s more likely that they’re Hallar’s Warriors.”

  “Why do you say that?” Aisha asked.

  “Look at the tattoo again.” Kodyn pointed to the two crossed swords inked above the top of the symbol. “That’s something we didn’t see in Praamis, or on the other Gatherers we dealt with before.”

  Evren’s eyes narrowed. “You’re thinking the blades mark them as Hallar’s Warriors?”

  “Best answer I can think of.” Kodyn shrugged. “But that leaves me with another question: what the hell is he doing in here?”

  Aisha cocked her head and glanced at Evren. “You said that Hallar’s Warriors were behind the riots, right?”

  “Yes, them and the Ybrazhe.” His face fell, his expression growing hard. “We got to Blackfinger in time, but—”

  “Hey, it’s not your fault.” Aisha shot him a stern glare. “From what I hear, you and Issa almost stopped the riot before it started.”

  Evren shook his head. “That was mostly Issa. She had almost gotten through to them, almost talked them down, but there were more groups elsewhere.” His eyes dropped to the floor and his shoulders slumped as if beneath a heavy burden. “We barely got out of there.”

  “But you snatched up Blackfinger and got him to Lady Callista,” Kodyn said, his voice firm. “By the time she’s done with him, she’ll know everything about the Syndicate’s operation.”

  “Not that she’ll be able to do much until the riots are quelled,” Evren muttered, a dark look in his eyes.

  “Which leads me back to these guys.” Kodyn gestured to the bodies at his feet. “Hallar’s Warriors, the ones leading the riot. Or at least part of it.”

  “Yeah, and?” Aisha asked.

  “Well, you saw how determined they were to get in here,” Kodyn said, his tone musing. “They were attacking all the temples, but it felt like their main focus was here. The crowd was bigger, and there were more of them in the throng.”

  Aisha’s eyes narrowed. Kodyn tended to be more direct, but at times when he was trying to figure out a complex puzzle, he took a while to get to his point. Give him time, though, and he always sorted things out. Life under the thumb of Bryden, petty bureaucrat and Master of House Hawk, had sharpened his intellect.

  “Hallar’s Warriors had the mob under their control.” Kodyn’s expression was pensive, his lips twisted into a thoughtful frown. “The cultists could have simply unleashed them on the temple and let them do their thing. So why come in and attack personally?”

  Aisha’s eyes widened as she understood the point he was getting at. “You think they came in here for a specific reason?” She turned to glance past Briana. On the table lay Suroth’s journal and the Serenii artifact.

  “Like the Gatherers that attacked her house!” The words burst from Evren’s lips.

  Kodyn nodded. “This wasn’t just a random attack, or at least, it doesn’t feel that way. If they were just after death and chaos, they would have let the mob handle it. But they came in here, straight to Briana’s room, for the same thing they wanted the last time they attacked.”

  Aisha’s brow furrowed. Could it be? After the assault, she and Briana had come to the conclusion that the Gatherers needed Suroth’s journal and the Serenii artifacts to access the Vault of Ancients. Something stored safely in the Serenii-built vault would help them bring on the Final Destruction mentioned in prophecy.

  Thoughts of the Vault of Ancients brought back memories of the previous night. Her hand went to the necklace that held the silver pendant with its strange black Serenii-made stone. Kodyn had convinced Lady Callista to show them the vault—at first glance, nothing more than a plain slab of solid sandstone.

  But the moment he’d touched the Secret Keepers’ glowstone to the wall, the Serenii symbols had lit up. Something had sucked the spirit from Aisha’s pendant and absorbed it into the vault’s door. Almost as if the door could be opened using the power of the Kish’aa. She might have believed it impossible had she not witnessed it mere hours earlier.

  “…think that Hallar’s Warriors are after the journals as well?” Evren’s question pulled her from her contemplation.

  “It’s the only explanation that makes sense,” Kodyn said. “They had to know how dangerous it would be to come into the Secret Keepers’ temple. The only reason they’d risk it is the reward was big enough.”

  “Nothing bigger than the Final Destr
uction they’re so desperate for.” Evren snorted derision. “Damned zealot madmen.”

  “The question is,” Hailen asked, “how did they know we were here?”

  Kodyn’s answer died on his lips as the far wall of the chamber slid open and half a dozen brown-robed priests spilled into the room. At their head stood Ennolar, the bald-headed, pudgy Secret Keeper that had replaced Suroth as Arch-Guardian. Beside him, the stern-faced Uryan crouched, wary eyes scanning the room for any sign of threat.

  Though they carried no weapons and wore no armor, they appeared every inch the warriors ready for battle. Aisha had seen what they could do empty-handed—a company of eight Secret Keepers had defeated more than twice their number of sword-wielding militants, fought off an attack by thirty more.

  At the sight of Uryan, Aisha tensed in expectation of Thimara’s spark surging to life within her. It took her a long moment to remember that Thimara had fulfilled her mission—she had found those responsible for her death, the men spreading the poison masquerading as the Azure Rot. The Secret Keeper had given the last of her spark of life to save Kodyn’s life.

  Finding the room empty of living threats, the Secret Keepers relaxed. Two hurried to the corpses lying on the floor and crouched over them, brows furrowed in surprise.

  Ennolar rushed to Briana’s side. “Briana, are you hurt?” The fingers of his right hand flashed in the silent Secret Keeper sign language as his left rested on her shoulder.

  Briana shook her head. “No.” Her smile had grown stronger, no longer forced. The resilience of spirit that had kept her going after her father’s death and the removal of her Dhukari caste shone in her eyes. “I had a brave protector to watch out for me.”

  Hailen blushed and ducked his head.

  “Good.” Relief shone in Ennolar’s eyes. “I just got the news that some of the rioters entered the temple, but I came here as soon as—”

  His relief turned to shocked surprise as his gaze rested on the table. A moment later, anger darkened his face.

  Despite his bulk, he moved with surprising speed, darting toward the table and snatching up the artifact Evren had taken from Hailen. He whirled on them, eyes blazing.

  “You should not have this!” His fingers flashed, anger twisting his face. “It is forbidden to any outside the Temple of Whispers.”

  At Ennolar’s silent words, the other five priests tensed, their hands balling into angry fists. Aisha’s gut clenched. They had just fought to save the Temple of Whispers, but now would they have to fight Secret Keepers, too?

  Chapter Four

  Evren’s gut clenched as the mood in the chamber suddenly shifted. The moment the one called Ennolar grabbed the artifact, the eyes of every Secret Keeper in the room darkened, and anger flashed across their faces. There was no mistaking their aggressive stances, their clenched fists, the angry glares they cast at Hailen.

  This had something to do with that artifact!

  Instinctively, Evren’s hand dropped to the twin jambiyas tucked into his belt. He had no idea why the Secret Keepers had grown suddenly enraged, but he’d be damned if he let them take him, Hailen, or Briana without a fight.

  “What in the fiery hell are you doing?” Kodyn snarled. His hand had gone to his own long sword, and the anger in his face matched that sparking in the bald, rotund Arch-Guardian’s eyes.

  Ennolar’s fingers flashed, his face a mask of rage.

  “We just saved your asses from the damned mob, and this is all you can think about?” Kodyn growled. He stepped toward Ennolar, unafraid despite the fact that he was outnumbered and surrounded by Secret Keepers. “You so much as lay a hand on him, and I’ll—”

  Ennolar cut him off with a savage chopping gesture. His hands moved in a flurry of short, sharp movements, anger etched into every line of his face.

  Evren shot a questioning glance at Aisha. “What in the bloody hell’s going on?” he whispered. “What are they saying?”

  Aisha snarled. “The Secret Keepers are demanding to know how Hailen could have used the artifact to do that!” She jabbed a finger at the corpses. “And when I say demanding, really I mean threatening.”

  Evren’s heart sank into his stomach. The walls suddenly closed in around him, solid stone pressing in, constricting him. He was trapped in a temple once more, surrounded by priests that wanted to kill him. No, not him. Hailen. His worst fear had come true.

  Yet fear had never stopped Evren, not when it meant protecting Hailen. Clenching his jaw, he stepped toward the bald priest. “Maybe you’re asking the wrong damned question!” The Secret Keepers flanked Ennolar, but Evren refused to back down. “Maybe you should actually be thanking us because we were smart enough to get them out of Suroth’s house before the damned Keeper’s Priests came for them. Unless they carved out your manners with your tongues!”

  Ennolar’s eyes widened at the insolence, but that didn’t stop Evren. “Or, perhaps you wanted the Necroseti or the rioting mob outside to get their hands on these priceless treasures? Maybe we should have let them take the damned stones—and your whole bloody temple with it—rather than risking our hides to—”

  “Evren.” Briana’s voice was soft, as soft as the hand she rested on his arm.

  He glanced down at her. A warning light shone in her eyes. He’d clearly overstepped the bounds of civility, but the way they threatened Hailen had driven back all sense of propriety.

  “Ennolar.” Briana used Evren’s arm to pull herself to her feet and planted herself in front of the balding Secret Keeper. “When I bargained for my safety, I told you that my companions and I would be permitted to continue my father’s research without interruption.” Her expression hardened, which somehow made her oval, golden-skinned face appear all the more beautiful to Evren. “I will be happy to share with you what we have learned, but for now, there is much about these artifacts yet to be uncovered. Which we will never do if you take Hailen.”

  Take Hailen? Evren’s blood froze in his veins. This had been his worst fear since the day they left Voramis: that someone would discover the truth of Hailen’s Melechha blood and try to use it for themselves. Hailen had offered to help Briana, and Briana had used that to leverage the Secret Keepers into offering her sanctuary from the Gatherers here in the Temple of Whispers. Yet to hear that the Guardians wanted more than just Hailen’s presence filled him with dread.

  He leapt toward Hailen and interposed himself between the boy and the Secret Keepers. “If you want him, you’ll have to fight your way through me.” He drew his daggers and crouched, eyes scanning the priests that had suddenly become his enemies. He might not be able to take down all six Secret Keepers, but he’d go down swinging.

  To his surprise, Kodyn stepped up to join him. “And me.” He made no move to draw his sword, but there was no mistaking the wary readiness in his stance, the tension in his shoulders.

  Aisha was a step behind. “All of us.” Even empty-handed, her broad shoulders, strong arms, and ferocious scowl made her a fierce obstacle.

  Gratitude swelled within Evren. He had stood alone his entire life—first in the Master’s Temple, then on the streets of Vothmot. His encounter with the Hunter of Voramis had shown him how much he needed companions, friends, even family like Hailen. Now, he had those friends to fight beside him—even if the battle took place in the temple they had just saved.

  “Hailen stays with me,” Briana said, her voice as firm and unyielding as the stone walls surrounding her. “If you wish to unlock the secrets of the Serenii through him, through his blood, then you will permit us to continue unmolested.”

  Ennolar’s expression flattened. Evren didn’t understand the silent hand language, but the Secret Keeper’s face said “Or what?” as plainly as if he’d shouted the words in Evren’s ears.

  “Consider the circumstances,” Kodyn growled. “You are under siege, but the enemy is out there!” He thrust a finger toward the temple’s exit. “After everything that’s happened, do you really want to turn against us now?”


  Ennolar cocked an eyebrow, his fingers moving in an almost contemptuous gesture.

  “We may be just three,” Kodyn said, “but—”

  “But there is an entire temple of Beggar Priests that would be quite interested to learn that Hailen is locked up in here,” Evren interjected.

  Suspicion flashed in Ennolar’s narrowed eyes. He shot a glance at Briana, his fingers flashed.

  Briana turned to him. “What do you mean?” Though she translated Ennolar’s question, curiosity etched her face as well. Kodyn and Aisha’s expressions were hard, their gazes fixed on Ennolar, but Hailen stared at Evren in stunned surprise.

  That look in Hailen’s violet eyes drove a dagger into Evren’s gut. He recognized the betrayal written there. Hailen had fled Voramis to escape the Beggar Priests and their stifling lessons. For a few short days, he’d actually found the freedom he wanted. The reality of life had come crashing back down the moment he had taken refuge in the Temple of Whispers.

  Yet he knew, as did Evren, that returning him to the Beggar Priests would be sending him back to a confinement far worse than his life here among the Secret Keepers. At least here he had the illusion of choice. Here, he was treated as one of their small group, not a child, novice, or precious trinket to be stored in a glass jar.

  Evren had no desire to return Hailen to the Beggar Priests, but he’d bloody well play that card if he had to.

  “Tell me, Secret Keepers,” Evren said, his tone utterly devoid of the respect owed to priests of Ennolar’s ranking, “do you know the secret of the Cambionari?”

  The word had an instant effect on Ennolar. None of the other priests, not even the stern-faced Uryan, reacted, but Ennolar’s face tightened.

  The Cambionari were a sect of demon-hunting warriors within the priesthood of the Beggar God. They studied the weapons, poisons, and strategies necessary to kill the demons hiding on Einan. Those same skills could be put to use killing humans as well. Especially priests that threatened the one person who could save the world from certain destruction.