by John Marco
Since returning to Ackle-Nye his command over the legionnaires had evaporated. General Cassis had begun questioning his every order. Now every member of the garrison was waiting for word from Nar, like dogs waiting for their owner's whistle.
The door to the tavern hung open on its creaking hinge. Blackwood Gayle felt the lazy hand of sleepiness graze him. He was very tired, but sleep had eluded him lately, so he decided to remain in the tavern, at least until he finished his current bottle. Without realizing it, he lowered his head to the table, setting down on the wet ink of the map. Within a few moments his eye closed, dragging him off to sleep.
But soon he awoke out of an unpleasant dream. Someone was standing over him, prodding his shoulder with a gloved finger. Alarmed, Gayle bolted upright.
"What....?" he sputtered, staring into a helmeted face, shining metal skull looked back at him. Gayle's insides seized.
"Baron Blackwood Gayle of Talistan?" came the voice behind the helm.
"I am he."
The Shadow Angel reached into a pouch at his gilded belt and pulled out a small piece of paper. Handing it to Gayle he said, "I am a messenger from Count Renato Biagio."
Gayle fought to steady his hands. Though his eyes were blurry from sleep, he could see Biagio's wax seal on the letter, the crest of his island home of Crote. He broke the seal, hesitated, then opened the letter and read.
My Dear Baron, Our emperor is near death, and I assume from your silence that you have failed to find a magic that can save him. If this is not a foregone conclusion, have your men continue their search. You, Baron, are given another charge.
This messenger is one of my private guardians. He is part of a contingent that will be arriving in Ackle-Nye. You are to take these men and capture Richius Vantran, delivering him to Nar City before our great emperor expires. It is his dying wish that be brought here for trial, and I have promised him this final victory. The emperor's time is being counted in days. Do not fail.
Cordially, Count Renato Biagio
Gayle stared at the page for a moment, trying to keep the giddiness at bay. "When was this letter sent?"
"I rode from Nar City four weeks ago," replied the Shadow Angel.
"Four weeks?" Gayle scratched at his mask thoughtfully. "And what news have you heard since coming here?"
"I do not listen to gossip as a woman. I am under orders from my count. I was to seek you out and deliver this message. Now I have done that." The soldier inclined his head. "I await your bidding."
"My bidding? Explain."
"Baron," began the soldier impatiently. "In three days' time my brothers will arrive in this city. You are to take us to find Richius Vantran. We will capture him alive and bring him back to Nar. To do this we are to follow your orders."
"Just how many of you are there?"
"One hundred," replied the soldier. "Enough."
Oh, yes, thought Gayle. Enough indeed.
"These men," Gayle continued, "do they know of their mission?"
"They know only that they are to meet you here and follow your orders. I will be here to explain the rest to them."
An inward smile broke beneath Gayle's silver mask. "What's your name, Shadow Angel? The rank on your cape says captain."
"I am Odamo, a captain of the count's guardians."
"Your accent sounds Cretan. Are you?"
"Proudly so, Baron."
Gayle leaned back and got comfortable, putting his feet up on the rickety table. "Well then, Captain. I have a service for you. I want you to set out for Nar in the morning. There's a message I want delivered to your count."
The Shadow Angel watched as Gayle sipped at his drink, then took up his pen again and began writing, jotting quickly in the margins of Biagio's letter, concealing his scribblings with a cocked shoulder.
He began.
Dear Count, Thank you for the contingent of soldiers. By the time you read this letter you will know how badly I need them. You may tell the emperor that I look forward to my hanging. If he is not dead by then, perhaps he can do the honors himself. Please tell him also that his dying wish will not be fulfilled. Vantran is mine.
He signed it politely, Your devoted servant, Blackwood Gayle.
"There," he said cheerfully, folding the letter and handing it to the soldier. "Now make all haste with it. And don't read it, or I'll know. That letter is for the count only. You may stay the night to rest but I want you to leave by dawn. This note must be delivered by your hand alone. Take a ship or a horse, I don't care how you get there. Just see that he gets it. Do you understand?"
The skull helm was still for a long moment. Finally a voice issued forth. "Baron, the men that are coming are under my command."
"They are under my command now," corrected Gayle. "Did the count not tell you to follow my orders?"
"He did."
"And are you not sworn to die if the count bids you?"
"I am. But..."
"Captain," snarled Gayle. "You are a Shadow Angel. You will do exactly as I tell you. These matters are not for a brain your size. Trust your master. Trust me. Do you hear?"
"Yes, Baron. I will obey."
"Good. Now go. And don't worry about your men. I will be here when they arrive. Everything will be explained to them."
When the dawn finally broke, Dyana was still awake. Najjir had not returned.
She would not have expected it from Richius. Still, she had only herself to blame. She had rejected him, then handed him another woman. How could she condemn him for being a man?
"So he is lost to me," she said softly, spying Najjir's empty bed. She wondered what it had been like for her, lying with him, enduring his kisses. He had been tender with her, of course. He was always tender. Soon he would desire her nightly. She would go to his bed willingly the next time, and they would have a child and he would forget about Shani....
Abruptly she stopped herself. Such thoughts would only drive her mad. But she would not be here when Najjir returned. That she simply couldn't face.
The floor was cold on her bare feet, speeding her along as she dressed and pulled on a pair of soft leather boots, the ones that reached to her thighs and were good for walking through tall grass. She had a destination in mind, someplace Richius had thought very special. She wanted to see it again before he shared it with Najjir.
Outside the chamber she found the hall empty and silent. Shani was asleep in a nearby room, carefully tended to by the nurse that looked after all the warlord's children. Not even a whimper issued from beneath the door. Dyana shut the door to her own chamber and tiptoed through the hall. The sun was just rising, burning off the chill of night. Blessedly, the yard was empty.
She hurried down the stairs, through the dingy hall, and out of the iron gates without seeing another soul. Since the siege of the valley there were only a handful of warriors left, and they were mostly wounded men, tended by the widows of the castle. The dearth of men made maneuvering the castle grounds more convenient. When she reached the yard she headed for the rear of the castle, passing the huddle of neglected sculptures. The sky was still gray, and she had to work to locate the path in the darkness, but she soon found it hidden in the shade of an elm. Then satisfied no one was watching, she disappeared into the woods. The darkness made navigating the narrow path difficult. Dyana kept her eyes on the ground and one hand stretched out before her. Above her, the thick cradle of tree limbs blotted out most of the sun's rays, but she reminded herself that it wasn't far and soon she heard the burble of running water. Before long she saw the break in the trees and the little alcove where the stream bubbled merrily in the light.
She moved toward the clearing eagerly but stopped as she noticed a figure nestled against the backdrop of trees. It was Najjir, sitting with her head bowed on the smooth rock, tracing her fingernail over her name. Dyana halted behind a tree and watched Najjir, watched the little river of tears dripping onto the cold rock and the way the breeze rippled her tired strands of hair. She was still dressed in t
he silk shift she had worn to Richius' chamber. It clung defiantly to her body against the morning chill. There was a vacant expression on her face as one by one she spelled out the letters with her fingers, finished, then repeated the process. Dyana stepped out from behind the tree.
"Najjir?" she asked anxiously. As she approached the old woman's head tilted slowly up. Dyana hurried up to her side and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. The silk and skin beneath were like ice.
"What are you doing out here?"
"See my name?" asked Najjir blankly, gesturing to the letter carved into the rock. "Voris wrote it for me."
"Najjir, you are freezing. Let me take you inside."
"It is pretty here. Voris used to take me here when we we young. I am comfortable here."
Dyana reached down and took Najjir's hand. "You are not dressed to be out here, Najjir. Come with me. We will go inside and get you changed."
Najjir jerked her hand away. "I want to stay."
"Najjir, what is wrong with you? Have you been out here all night?"
"All night, yes. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to get away from Kalak. And you."
Dyana sank down beside the woman and put her arms around her shoulders. "What happened?" she asked carefully. "Did he...?"
The question trailed off. Najjir followed her meaning. "No," she answered. "He did not. He might have, but I screamed and frightened him. Then I left him. I think he wanted me to go." She turned to Dyana and her eyes widened. "He is mad, Dyana. Kalak is mad."
Dyana stiffened. "He is... troubled."
"You were not there. I know. I saw his eyes."
"But he did not hurt you?"
Najjir looked away. "No. He merely watched me. I do not think he could have hurt me, he is so..."
"Kind?" Dyana suggested.
"Alone," corrected Najjir. Her head slumped and she began to weep, great sobs rising up from her belly. Dyana tightened her embrace and held the woman, rocking her and coaxing out the tears until they ebbed enough for speech. "I cannot go on like this," said Najjir. "I cannot. Kalak is not my lord. He never could be. I..." She choked on another sob. "I want my husband back."
Dyana let Najjir weep, but in her heart she rejoiced, redeemed by Richius' refusal of her friend. Najjir might think him mad, but she was wrong. It was not insanity that drove him. She had seen brutes who would have forced themselves on a protesting woman. But not Richius. He was the truest man she had ever known.
"Will you let me take you inside?" asked Dyana.
Najjir didn't respond.
"Najjir, you will be sick if you do not warm yourself. Please, come inside. Let me put you to bed. You look exhausted."
"I do not want to see him," said Najjir. "I cannot be with him, Dyana. I cannot."
"Be still, Najjir. You have nothing to fear from Richius, you know that. Remember, we were the ones that made him see you last night."
"I was wrong," said Najjir. "I would rather have no master than him. Please, Dyana. Tell him this for me."
"Oh? And what will happen to you? And your family? Najjir. You need Richius. He is the lord of this valley now."
Najjir's face darkened. "It should have been Jarra," she said bitterly.
"But it is Richius. And if you do not want him to touch you he will not. I promise you that. But you know what will happen to you if you are without a lord. You will be prey for any man who comes to claim you. And Richius won't be able to stop them, because you will have renounced your loyalty to him."
"I do not know what to do, Dyana," she moaned. "I am afraid of him."
"You were the one that made me take you to him, Najjii. I have done that for you. He will not harm you, but you do not want to believe that. What you must understand is that he wants no part of this lordship, but he has no choice."
"He could leave," said Najjir sharply.
"He could," Dyana agreed. "And forget Voris' request of him and forgo you and your family, leaving you to be snatched up some cruel farmer, and the valley to be torn apart by fighting. But he will not do that, because he is a man of honor." Dyana rose and stared down acidly at Najjir. "Maybe someday you will see that."
Dyana turned to go, then heard Najjir's desperate plea.
"Dyana, wait, please...."
"No, Najjir," Dyana snapped. "What did you think I did for you last night? I love Richius. You know that. But you made me bring you to him so that he would protect you. Now you want him to forget about you, after I have explained to him what would happen if he does? No. I will not do it."
"Dyana, I cannot be his woman. I cannot bear the thought of it."
"Then tell him yourself," said Dyana coldly. "I want no part of it."
She turned and strode away, but had taken no more than three paces before a fiery pain tore through her temples. Her knees buckled and she shrieked, putting her hands to her head and shutting her eyes. Behind her she heard Najjir's cry, felt the woman's worried hand grasp her shoulder, but still she sank into the muddy bank, blind and in agony as a disembodied voice thundered in her head. The blurry image of Tharn's face flashed through her mind, a phantom at once flesh and ethereal. The mouth was moving, the broken teeth chattering words, garbled sounds punctuated by an animal's roar and the throaty click of an unknown dialect. Dyana tried to stand, moaning as the images flooded her mind. Najjir's hands were there, bearing her up. "Dyana!" came Najjir's terrified voice. "What is it?"
"Tharn," choked Dyana. She opened her eyes and still saw the phantasm face of her husband. "It is Tharn. He is here."
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Jarra awakened Richius with a single word. Dyana. It was all Richius needed to break the hold of sleep. He followed the Dumaka through the halls as he hastily buttoned up his shirt, the dirt of the yard scraping his bare feet. Out near the gate he saw Dyana lying with her head in Najjir's lap. A small crowd of women had gathered around them, eyeing Najjir in her nightclothes. Dyana had her eyes shut while Najjir brushed a gentle hand across her forehead.
"My God, what's happened?" asked Richius as he rushed through the throng. He knelt down beside Dyana. "Dyana, what is it? Are you ill?"
Dyana shivered. Finally she opened her eyes. "Tharn," she whispered. "He is coming."
Richius looked at Najjir but the old woman shrugged. The crowd began murmuring among themselves. Richius turned to glower at them.
"Get away, all of you." He gestured to the Dumaka. "Jarra, get them out of here."
Jarra began shooing away the curious crowd. Richius bent over Dyana. Her skin was hot, misted with perspiration. A wild panic fevered her eyes.
"Dyana," he said gently. "I'm here. I want you to tell me what's wrong. What about Tharn? Is he talking to you?"
"Yes," she said. "And no. I see him, but I do not understand. He is in my head, Richius. It hurts, it hurts...."
"What hurts?"
"He is coming," said Dyana. "Very near. Others are with him. Beasts. He is talking to me, shouting--"
"Easy," crooned Richius. "Don't speak. We'll get you inside. He tucked his hands beneath her legs and shoulders and lift her gently from the ground. Listlessly she wrapped her hand around his neck.
"He cannot talk," she moaned. "He tries, but he cannot. He's ill, I feel it."
"I'll take you inside. You'll feel better. Quiet now, quiet..."
"Very near," she said again. "I must wait for him."
"Wait for him in bed," said Richius, and carried her out of the yard through the castle gates. Jarra and the confused Najjir followed, shadowing him through the hall until they reached the bedchamber Dyana shared with Voris' wife. The Dumaka waited at the threshold while the others stepped inside, and Richius placed Dyana lightly on her bed. He pulled off her long boots, drew the covers over her, and watched her shut her eyes.
"Tharn looks for me," she gasped. "But he cannot find me."
"If he's coming he will be here soon enough," said Richius. "Try to rest. It will pass. I'll wait here with you. Nothing will happen, I promise."
"My mind, he is inside it. He does not know...."
"Dyana, please. Try to be still." He took her hand and patted it. "Close your mind to it. I'm not going to leave you."
He glanced over at Najjir, who was watching their exchange with a sorrowful expression. She looked away as their eyes met. Carefully Richius slipped his hand out of Dyana's.
"I'm right here," he assured her, but slid off the bed and went over to Najjir. He had hardly noticed her garb, the same shift she had worn to his room the previous evening. Now she looked more like a girl than a woman. Deep lines of fatigue and worry scratched her face. Richius stood before her and opened his arms. "I am sorry about your husband," he said.
Najjir took a flustered breath and said something he did not understand.
"She asks that you forgive her," Dyana explained.
Richius shook his head. "No. There is nothing to forgive."
Najjir's expression softened. She bent her head in a bow, then went over to Dyana's bedside. The two women spoke for a moment, and Najjir leaned forward and lightly kissed Dyana's forehead. Dyana gave a little laugh as Najjir rose and left the room. Richius watched her disappear through the door before going back to Dyana's bedside.
"What did she say?" asked Richius.
"She told me I was right about you," she answered. Her gray eyes opened again and she regarded him. "I know you did not touch her, Richius. I know what happened last night."
Richius brushed a strand of hair from Dyana's face. "And you? How are you now?"
"Better, I think. Tharn is gone. I cannot see him. But he was calling to me, Richius, looking for me. Something is wrong. He is ill; he is weak. His mind would not focus on me. I could feel his pain, his fear. Oh, Richius, what is it?"
"I don't know, Dyana," said Richius. "But if he is near we will find out soon. Now close your eyes and try to sleep."
She closed her eyes and tilted her head into the pillow. Before long she had slipped into a shallow sleep. Richius remained at the bedside, watching quietly. Tharn was near. He had used the same magic he had taught Lucyler to enter Dyana's mind, but somehow the jolt had been unfocused, overwhelming. Perhaps it was as Dyana guessed. Perhaps he was ill and crying for help. And what were the beasts chasing him? Lions? Or had they already raked their claws over the cunning-man's body, and his last scream was echoing in Dyana's brain?