The Archmage Unbound

by Michael G. Manning

  Chapter 12

  The cool linens were soothing against Cyhan’s skin. The large man slept with little more than a sheet despite the crisp night air. His body had always seemed to produce far more heat than he needed.

  Glancing upward he couldn’t help but be glad to be home again, if his room in the palace could truly be called home. Residence would probably be a better word. Even so, two months in a dungeon had given him a new appreciation for a proper bed and fresh sheets. Not that he would have ever admitted such a thing where anyone could hear it.

  “I must be getting old,” he mused aloud. Truthfully the cell he had occupied in Lancaster hadn’t been bad… as far as prison cells went anyway. The good duke had made sure he was properly fed and given fresh water daily, but it had not been a comfortable existence.

  Despite the fact that he was back in his accustomed place he still found little peace. Mordecai’s words bothered him. Cyhan had always been proud of his service, training the next generation of Anath’Meridum (when there had still been the possibility someone would need one), and serving his king when that was no longer necessary. He had also prided himself on not second guessing himself once he had given his oath. His life had been built around the principle of fidelity.

  Intelligence and wit were meant to serve a purpose. Little was to be gained by debating a choice over and over after it had been made. Yet the older he got the harder it was to maintain his rigid principles. Life seemed determined to color him in shades of gray.

  Though his eyes were closed his room was softly lit by moonlight coming from the balcony facing the royal gardens. A flicker made him open his eyes slowly. Had something just blocked the light momentarily? He kept his body relaxed and still while his ears became more sensitive. If there was an intruder his hand already knew where his blade was… he felt no need to reach for it yet.

  A hint of sandalwood came to his nose and he smiled in the semi-darkness. The sharp cold edge of a blade pressed against the skin of his neck and he could see a shadow leaning over him. “Has your time away made you soft zaihar?” The voice that spoke was soft and sultry.

  “If you had come to kill me I doubt you would have worn perfume,” he answered without moving.

  “When I kill you it will be while the jasmine is blooming and your nose is already filled with its scent,” she said, leaning in close enough to see his face in the dim light.

  Her hair fell around him as she leaned down and the smell of sandalwood grew stronger. Moving slowly Cyhan slid his hand up the outside of her thigh, tracing her curves. The knife pressed harder against his throat, its sharp edge warning him. “Careful zaihar, your life is in my hands,” she told him, her face mere inches from his own.

  “I’ll take my chances,” he replied as his hand roamed into more sensitive zones in the darkness. A moment later the woman gasped and the pressure on the blade let up for a moment. With a twist he took the blade from her hand and tossed it across the room. A brief struggle ensued, earning him a few bruises and a scratch. His opponent was naked but for a sheer nightgown.

  The woman was much stronger than she appeared and a capable wrestler, but she still proved no match for him. He was nearly twice her weight after all. Forcing her into an armlock he held her captive against the mattress. His other hand continued to roam even as she growled at him. “Has my time away made you soft Ruth?” he asked.

  She bit him then, but softly. “Release me and I will show you soft,” she teased.

  He did and despite his reflexes she caught him across the cheek with a stinging slap. He had forgotten how fast she was. He ignored the blow and drew her in fiercely for a kiss. Several minutes passed before she spoke again. “I thought you weren’t coming back,” she said.

  “I almost didn’t,” he admitted. “What would you have done?”

  She had her legs around him by then, and pushing him back down she leaned closer to whisper into his ear, “I would have left a trail of blood and dead men from one end of this kingdom to the other, until I found your killer.”

  “And if I wasn’t dead?” he asked, holding her waist. The nightgown had already been ripped to shreds during their struggle.

  “Then I’d have killed you myself,” she said nipping at his ear.

  He smiled at that but didn’t reply. No sense spoiling the moment. A long time went by before either of them resumed the conversation. They had more pressing issues to resolve.

  Eventually things calmed down and they lay tangled in the ruins of Cyhan’s bed. “I was starting to think you were mad at me,” he said referring to the fact that he had been back in the capital for more than two weeks before Ruth had chosen to ‘visit’ him.

  She snorted, “I was, but you seemed too thick-headed to understand the message.”

  He grunted but stayed silent.

  “Besides,” she continued, “I’m leaving soon. I didn’t want to go without saying goodbye.”

  He levered himself up on his elbow to see her more clearly, “Does this have anything to do with you being found unconscious in the garden the other day?”

  She grimaced. That had been one of her most embarrassing failures since she had begun working for the king over ten years ago. “I suspect I would have been given this mission anyway but that didn’t help matters any.”

  Cyhan didn’t ask what her assignment was; he knew she wouldn’t tell him.

  She spoke instead, “I need information.”

  He took a deep breath; he had guessed it might come to this. He could feel something inside his chest clench uncomfortably. He ignored the sensation. “When are you leaving?” he asked but he already knew the answer. If she left tomorrow she would reach Castle Cameron a day before the public ceremony with Mordecai in the capital. The timing would make sure she was there while the new Lord Cameron was absent.

  “I can’t answer that,” she replied. “I need to know what she’s like.”

  “You mean my recent student of course,” he said bluntly.

  She nodded, “I already met her husband.”

  “Don’t judge him by that. He’s two different people in some senses. Hard under pressure but still naïve when he can afford to be,” he said.

  “He seemed quite capable, but I need to know about his wife,” she pressed.

  Since he won’t be there, Cyhan thought to himself. “She’s no pushover. I trained her well, but she is still young and inexperienced. She has spirit but without the bond she is no match for you.”

  “The reports say she is pregnant,” Ruth added.

  “Probably,” he answered. “I never saw her after the battle and they didn’t see fit to keep me updated while I was locked up.”

  “That might complicate things,” she commented, staring at him.

  “How so?” Cyhan asked.

  “Women fight harder when their offspring are endangered,” she replied. “I’m surprised you would forget that. Why do you think Elena broke her bond?”

  “Have you ever given any thought to having your own children?” Cyhan asked suddenly. Even he wasn’t sure where the question had come from.

  Ruth’s eyes widened in the darkness, “Is that your way of proposing to me?”

  He tightened his jaw, “If it were… what would your answer be?”

  She relaxed. “I don’t know. Perhaps if you were younger it would be easier to answer that question,” she said teasingly.

  His hand tensed painfully on her arm for a moment before he relaxed his grip and looked away. “You need a new job,” he said finally.

  Ruth laughed and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, draping herself almost casually over him. It was a gesture both sensual and warm in equal measure. “Are you worried about me or the countess?”

  He gritted his teeth. “Both,” he said at last. “They’re good people.”

  “All they have to do is keep his majesty happy and no one will need to shed any tears,” she replied. “Are you having doubts about your oath?”

  “I’m tired
of blood. Maybe we should retire,” he replied, avoiding the question.

  Her face was behind his line of sight so he never saw the expression of pain that crossed her face. When she spoke her voice was playful, “People like us don’t retire zaihar, and we die the same way we have lived.”

  “Stop calling me that, I’m not your teacher anymore.”

  “My! Aren’t you testy this evening? I’m starting to think you’re worried about me,” she said.

  “If by some chance you encounter Mordecai during your mission… don’t fight him,” he answered, ignoring her remarks.

  “You have so little faith in me now?” she said.

  Cyhan frowned. “He’s too dangerous, especially if he thinks his family is in danger, and if anyone is going to slip a blade between his ribs it should be me. I owe him at least that much.”

  Ruth kissed him along his jaw and ear. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so melancholy, or so poetic. They really got to you didn’t they?”

  He shook his head slightly, “No, I’ve just been re-thinking some things lately.”

  “Don’t think so hard,” she answered, running her hands lightly down his stomach. “I take that back…,” she said throatily in his ear. “Think as hard as you like.”

  “Shouldn’t you be resting before tomorrow,” Cyhan replied.

  Ruth laughed, “I can rest when I’m dead.” Holding him she traced her hand across his chest till it found the iron pendant resting there. The enchanted pendant Mordecai had made for him to protect his mind. “What’s this?” she asked.

  “Something you need,” he replied, reaching up to untie the thong around his neck. “It prevents magic or other influences from affecting your mind. If you had been wearing it the other day you wouldn’t have taken your sudden nap.” Turning he put it on her.

  “Where did you get such a thing?”

  “Mordecai made it for me,” he said with a chuckle. “I think you’ll be far more likely to need it in the coming days than I will.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “He gave this to the man who tried to kill him?”

  Cyhan shook his head. “He made one for everyone in his town, to protect them from the shiggreth. He gave it to me before breaking his bond, before I tried to kill him.”

  “And he let you keep it?”

  “You would have to know him for a while to understand,” he replied, his eyes were staring into the distance now.

  “He must be a fool,” she said.

  Cyhan’s attention returned from the recesses of his mind and he began kissing her once more, easing her gently back onto the pillows. “Maybe,” he murmured softly to himself. “I’m not so sure anymore.”

  Chapter 13

  The days passed quickly, probably because I worked myself harder than ever. I wanted to make sure the second set of armor was finished before I left for the capital. The recent scare and the ensuing paranoia had made me more aware than ever that I needed help. I couldn’t be everywhere, nor could I protect everyone.

  A knock at the door to the smithy drew my attention away. “Come in Lisette,” I called. I had already recognized the castle maid though she hadn’t spoken or opened the door yet.

  She poked her head through the door, “Pardon me your lordship, but Sir Dorian asked me to tell you that it’s time for your planning session.” For some reason my eye lit upon a bright ribbon she had tied her hair up with. On rare occasions I can be highly perceptive. Penny might say those occasions usually involve pretty women, but that was only true some of the time… like today.

  “Is that a new ribbon Lisette?” I observed as I followed her out of the smithy.

  She blushed, “Yes your lordship, though I thought such things would be beneath your notice.”

  “You must have an admirer,” I guessed. “One of the lads in the village?” as I said ‘lads’ I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I sounded like an old man, though I had yet to pass my twentieth birthday.

  Her color deepened, “No your lordship, one of the armsmen.” Her embarrassment had caused her to lower her head even more deeply. I could no longer see her eyes.

  “No need to be embarrassed, it’s only natural. Do you fancy him?” I felt bad as soon as I asked. I had pressed her beyond the ability to speak, she nodded mutely instead.

  I tried to put her at ease. “I’m sorry Lisette. I shouldn’t have pried into your affairs. If he mistreats you though, let me know. I’ll have no discourtesy among my men.”

  For some reason that remark roused her from her flustered embarrassment. “Oh no your lordship! Harold would never mistreat me. He’s a true gentleman, by nature at least… if not by birth.” Finishing her sentence she realized she had said more than she intended and lapsed again into silence.

  The name surprised me. “Harold Simmons?”

  She nodded a ‘yes’.

  “From what I’ve heard he’s a good fellow,” I said. We had reached the stairs by then and our paths were separating. I couldn’t help but feel I had bungled the conversation somehow as she curtseyed and escaped down the hall. I still wasn’t used to people being afraid of me.

  A minute later I stepped into the planning room. Unlike a few months prior it now held its own table and chairs, so we were no longer forced to use the high table in the great hall. Many of the chairs were in use already, occupied by Dorian, Rose, Penny, and Harold Simmons. Dorian had suggested we include Harold today since he would be important to our plans in the near future. Better to start his education early than late.

  “Sorry I’m late, I lost track of time,” I told them.

  Penny rolled her eyes at me and I caught a hint of a smirk on Rose’s face, but Dorian spoke first. “Well now that you’re here we can get started.”

  I took a seat. “I’m sure you all know why we’re here. The recent incident with the intruder has raised certain issues. Issues that we need to prepare for while I am in the capital.”

  “Security,” Penny clarified for me.

  “Right,” I agreed. “Dorian you said you had a plan worked out, why don’t you explain?”

  Dorian stood up. I don’t think he could have addressed the room and remained seated. It just wasn’t in him. “The first thing we need to discuss is who will be going to the capital and who will remain here…”

  “Wouldn’t it be simpler if everyone just came with me?” I asked.

  Dorian glared at me for interrupting him so quickly. “Perhaps,” he answered, “but you will be busy and distracted in the capital. There is also the possibility of intrigue while you are there. I think it would be easier for you to focus on the matters at hand if you bring only the bare minimum of people with you.”

  “So primarily just Mort and myself?” Penny asked.

  Dorian shook his head in negation. “I’m sorry Penny but no. I would like for Mort to go alone, except for his honor guard.”

  “Won’t I be more exposed here without Mort close by?” she countered.

  “You won’t,” he replied. “It would be much more difficult for an enemy in the capital to coordinate any scheme at such a distance.”

  My wife wasn’t to be so easily defeated however, “What about our mysterious channeler?”

  “I have a solution for that as well. The day Mort leaves you will be moved to Lancaster, along with Miriam and your guards,” he said smugly. “No one outside of this room will know about your trip until you are already gone. Without knowing what our enemy intends I can only presume that a sudden relocation will seriously disrupt any plans they might have, especially if they don’t know where you have been taken.”

  I broke in, “Lancaster is a rather obvious location though.”

  “It is, but without certainty they will have difficulty deciding on their response, if they are even able to cover the distance quickly enough. If they do manage to follow they still will be on unfamiliar ground. They won’t know what rooms your family is staying in, the locations of the guards or how long you plan on being there.”r />
  Harold spoke up suddenly, “Who will be guarding the countess?” He spoke evenly, despite his obvious nervousness at being in a room full of his superiors.

  Dorian answered, “I will. You will be assigned to the count while he is in the capital.”

  “No disrespect Sir Dorian, but you would be far more qualified to protect the count,” said young Harold.

  I chuckled, “I think you’ve misunderstood his priorities Harold. Dorian is sending you with me because he’s guessing I’m much less likely to face a threat.”

  “Oh,” said the young fighter. He hid his embarrassment quickly.

  “Don’t take it too hard Harold,” Dorian said, trying to cheer him up. “After all you will still be leading the contingent guarding our illustrious count. That’s no small feat for a man your age.”

  Rose spoke up then, “From what you said before I gather you intend for me to remain with Penny and Miriam?”

  For the first time since he had begun Dorian looked directly at Rose. I hadn’t realized till then that he had been avoiding direct eye contact with her, probably because it frequently left him unable to speak clearly. “Errr… yes! That was exactly what I intended and astute it was of you to… I mean it was very astute of you… I…,” Dorian ended on an uncomfortable pause. At last he looked away and spoke again, “Yes. Sorry I lost my train of thought.”

  I could see Penny smiling at me from across the table. Naturally she found all of this vastly amusing, while I couldn’t help but be a bit embarrassed for my friend. Rose broke the silence, “Ordinarily I wouldn’t mind, but in this case I think I need to go with Mordecai,” she said.

  Dorian was still recovering so I spoke in his stead, “Why?”

  “I’m not on the list of primary targets, so I should be in little danger and I have several matters of business to attend to in the city. Not the least of which is helping you to acquire a new blacksmith,” she said.

  I had forgotten that. I had asked her advice on the matter the day before. “What other business do you have in the city?” I asked.

  She smiled, “Since you seem to be redeemed in the eyes of the king it appears that my Dorian may not be an outlaw forever. I thought I might talk to my father regarding some personal matters.” The way she said ‘my Dorian’ left little doubt in anyone’s mind how she felt about him. It was the first time I had ever heard her speak so openly about her feelings for him.