by Kris A Hiatt
“Are you going to Liernin?” she asked.
If he was able to convince Liernin of their plan, he and Kiril wouldn’t have much time to themselves, if any. He wanted to take advantage of it while he could. He felt fortunate that Kiril, being a woman, had her own room in the priory. “In the morning. Tonight I want to enjoy the warmth of being in your arms.”
Kiril smiled and kissed him sweetly before leading him to the bed.
~~~
“I can’t believe you talked Liernin into this,” Exodin fumed. “Why didn’t you come to me first?”
“Because you wouldn’t have agreed,” Treace replied.
Exodin seemed to consider his words. He looked around the empty room, save for them. After some thought he looked back at Treace. “You’re right,” Exodin confirmed in a much softer tone, “But I’d like to think my friend would have given me the benefit of the doubt and confided in me anyway.”
“As your friend, I’m sorry,” Treace told him. “But I didn’t want to argue with you for hours. This was the best way to ensure it would happen.” Exodin was his commander and his friend. It was awkward for him to go to Liernin without talking to Exodin first, but Treace believed it was for the best.
“You know many of the men won’t like this. Hell, I don’t like it. This is going to be very hard on you.”
“I know.”
“Not only on you, but on Kiril. Not to mention Moffred. How in the world you convinced him I’ll never know.”
“I didn’t,” Treace admitted.
“Wait, you’re doing this without Moffred even knowing?”
“Yes.”
“Going over my head was bad enough, but not talking to Moff first? That’s not smart,” Exodin told him.
“He wouldn’t agree to it. No matter how much time we gave him.”
“That’s what you thought about me,” Exodin replied.
“Are you saying you agree with the plan now?”
“No, I’m not. But I believe in you, and that’s more important.”
Treace smiled warmly. It felt good to know that his friend thought so highly of him.
“Go to Moff. Talk to him. Make him understand. But don’t do this without talking to him first. You’ll regret it if you do.”
~~~
“He won’t be out of my sight at first,” Treace explained. “But after a while, if he shows he can be trusted, we’ll let him have some time on his own.”
“And that’s when he’ll give all the information he has to another of Shamir’s men,” Moffred reasoned. “Because he’s a spy, and that’s what they do. He could even be an assassin. Did you ever think of that?”
“It’s true, he might be,” Treace agreed. “But I doubt a spy or an assassin would turn themselves in.”
“We don’t know what he’s going to do. He should stay in the cell.”
“You of all people should know that if we imprison him for what we think he might be or do, then we’re no better than Shamir.”
Moffred looked as if he had punched him in the stomach.
Treace considered his own words. It was the truth. He didn’t like it, but it was the truth.
“He gave the order to execute my family!”
“No, he didn’t,” Treace corrected. “Shamir did. Raythien was just following orders.”
“Which he’s most certainly doing now,” Moffred argued.
“Moff, you know I’m right about this,” Treace pleaded.
“Do you think it makes it any easier for me? It’s bad enough that I knew he was here in a cell. Now you’re telling me you want him to live freely among us? My family’s dead, Treace. Dead! Can’t you understand that?”
Tears freely fell from Moff’s eyes. It was the first time Moff had talked openly about what had happened. Treace felt saddened and relieved at the same time. He knew it was good for his friend to finally get it off his chest, but it pained him to see Moff so distraught. “I’m sorry, Moff. I truly am. But we can’t do the same to him as they did to us. Otherwise, we’re no better than they are.”
Moffred sat in his seat and cried heavy sobs. Treace thought about going to him, but Moffred began to wipe away the tears and looked up at him.
“You go ahead and let the bastard out,” Moff said with a bit of anger as he choked back tears. “You let him follow you around like a puppy. But it’ll be a mistake. That I promise you.”
Treace didn’t really expect a better outcome.
~~~
“I’m glad you talked to him,” Exodin said as they waited for Drevic not too far from Raythien’s cell.
Treace nodded. “Me too.”
“Just be sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I’m going to warn the rest of the men, but you better warn him too. If anyone needlessly attacks him, I’ll put them in a cell.”
“My apologies for being late,” the Archbishop said as he walked toward them. “But this took a little longer than I thought.”
In his arms he carried a bright yellow garment.
Treace nodded his understanding to Exodin. “Thank you Archbishop, I appreciate your help.”
They walked the short distance to Raythien’s cell.
“Open it,” Exodin commanded.
The guard did as he was instructed then stood aside.
“Archbishop, please?” Exodin asked, gesturing toward the garment.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Raythien asked.
Drevic walked closer to the door and unfurled the material to reveal a robe. A bright yellow robe the likes that Treace had never seen before. He was reminded of Emiah’s bright yellow dress all those years ago. He pictured Raythien in that dress and it nearly made him smile at the sight.
“Your new outfit,” Exodin announced.
“I’m not wearing a dress,” Raythien informed them.
“It’s a robe,” Treace corrected. “And you’ll get used to it.”
“Wear the robe or stay in the cell,” Exodin told him. “Your choice.”
Drevic held out the robe for Raythien to take. “This was one of my very own. It used to be white, but we couldn’t have people mistaking you for me now could we?”
“Does this mean?”
“If you wear the damned thing, yes,” Exodin confirmed.
The man paused for a moment but reluctantly took it.
“Good choice,” Exodin assured him.
“So if I wear this I’m free?”
“Not free,” Exodin corrected. “But you’ll have more freedom than you do in here.”
“So what then?”
“You’ll be with me, at all times,” Treace explained.
“That doesn’t sound free at all. It sounds like I’ll be chained to you.”
“You won’t be chained,” Exodin told him. “But you’ll wear that robe at all times. You’ll stay with Treace at all times. If any of my men see you alone or without that robe on, they have my blessing to kill you on sight. And this should go without saying, but I wouldn’t be seen with a weapon in your hand either.”
“How is that better than this cell?”
“Suit yourself,” Exodin said, sliding the cell door closed.
“No, no,” Raythien told them, grabbing the door. “I’ve always liked yellow.”
They waited for him to change into his new clothes and then left the prison.
When they made it outside the door, Moffred was there waiting for them. Exodin stopped the group.
“This was his idea,” Exodin said, gesturing in Treace’s direction. “Don’t do anything to make him regret it. I won’t be so nice the next time.”
“Fair enough,” Raythien replied.
“And you,” Exodin began, pointing at Moff. “Just so we’re clear, don’t do anything stupid or I’ll put you in a cell.”
Moffred frowned but didn’t offer a reply.
“He’s all yours,” Exodin said and walked away.
“Threatening to put me in a cell?” Moff asked testily.
“I’m sorry,
Moff,” Treace replied. “He just wants to make sure you understand how serious he is.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything that puts me back in a cell. But you have to sleep sometime. And if someone decides to kill him while you’re asleep, I’m not going to stop them,” Moff told him.
“I guess that’s as good as I should expect,” Raythien replied.
“Have fun with him,” Moff said, walking away.
“Where are you going?” Treace asked.
“To the bar. I don’t think it’s smart for me to be around him right now.”
Treace didn’t necessarily disagree. He had ordered Moff to come hoping to get him to see his way of thinking. Apparently that wasn’t the case. He knew it was going to be difficult for Moff, but he hoped his friend would come around.
“And don’t let the puppy piss on your boots,” Moff called back over his shoulder.
“Let’s go,” Treace said. He figured the safest spot for them right now was the small barracks reserved for all of Treace’s team except Kiril.
“I take it I’m the puppy?” Raythien asked as they walked.
“You are.”
“I thought you were the pup,” Raythien said, offering a smile. “I’ve always thought of myself as more of a hawk.”
“More of a canary, really,” Treace argued, ignoring the insult. If the man wanted to play games, so could he.
Raythien glanced at his new yellow robes and shook his head.
“Do as I say and don’t do anything stupid. If you do, I’ll have to clip your wings,” Treace told him. He felt quite clever.
“I’m forced to wear this dress and follow you around, must I suffer your bad jokes as well?”
“You didn’t have to come here. You chose to. This is on you. Now I’m forced to make sure you don’t fly away.”
“I’m already thinking it was a mistake,” Raythien said under his breath.
“You could be a caged bird instead if you like?”
“Do they end?” Raythien asked, obviously speaking of Treace’s jokes.
“For now. But don’t worry, I’ll be back at it when the rooster crows.”
“Can I go back to my cell now?”
“Have I ruffled your feathers?”
“Give me a sword. No one will need to kill me, I’ll gladly fall on it.”
Treace couldn’t think of anything else to say. He didn’t know why all the bad puns came out, but he was glad that they did. He already felt better about this situation.
“Why are you doing this?” Raythien asked after a short silence.
“Because we’re not like him,” Treace replied.
“If you mean Shamir,” Raythien said. “Then you’re more like him than I am.”
“Says the man who gave the order to murder my friend’s family,” Treace told him.
“Says the man who killed more than a dozen men during his escape from prison. Then decided to write a note on the wall using their blood,” Raythien replied, giving Treace a hard look.
Treace wanted to refute those claims, but knew he could not. Even though it was Brental and Disdane that killed those men and left the note, everyone thought it was Treace who did it. Doing so had elevated The Wolf’s reputation even further. Treace didn’t necessarily care about his own reputation, but he knew the story helped build confidence within the ranks of his men. Even as much as he disliked Brental, Treace had given his word to the man during that escape that he would keep that secret. Treace gave his word again to Moffred and Kiril when they convinced him it was better to stick to the lie. They managed to convince him it was the best way to keep each other safe. He didn’t give a shit about Brental, but he was going to keep his word to Kiril, so he didn’t reply.
“No clever response to that?”
“Stop pissing on my boots or I’ll rub your nose in it.”
Whether it was the seriousness in his voice or if it was just that Raythien couldn’t think of a reply, he didn’t say another word.
Chapter 9
“I’ve got to piss,” Raythien informed him quietly.
Treace had just sat down and was about to take his boots off.
“The puppy’s got to pee again!” Grudin announced to the room, pointing and laughing at Raythien.
When it came to fighting, Grudin was one of the best on Treace’s team. But when it came to knowing when to let something go, he was the worst. It had been well over a month and the initial moniker for Raythien had stuck in Grudin’s head. Treace had used it a few times at first, but he hadn’t used it in weeks.
“Let it go already,” Griffeth told him.
She was the newest member of the group, and knew her way around a staff, which was also something Grudin had pointed out on a few occasions using lewd comments and gestures. Treace was about to put a stop to it when Griffeth did it on her own. Grudin sat with ice on his crotch for quite a long time.
“I’ll let it go when the puppy finally grows up and doesn’t need daddy to take him outside,” Grudin replied through laughter.
Treace had enough. He didn’t say anything for the longest time because he hoped Grudin would let it go. But it was apparent he wasn’t going to. “You need to let it go,” Treace said seriously. “You’re too talented of a fighter to get kicked off the team because you don’t know when to keep your mouth shut.”
“You’re taking his side now?” Grudin asked.
“I’m taking my side,” Treace said, standing up. “And I said to let it go. Understand?”
“Alright boss, I was just having fun with him,” a deflated Grudin said. “No need to get all upset.”
“You haven’t seen me upset,” Treace replied, ushering Raythien out the door.
“Thanks,” Raythien told him once they were outside.
The cold night air nipped at Treace’s body. He didn’t bother to put on his cloak and was only wearing a shirt and thin breeches. Flurries flitted through the air and a fresh layer of snow had accumulated on the ground. It wasn’t the worst winter on record, but it wasn’t a mild one either. “Don’t thank me. I just threatened one of my own. It’s not something I’m proud of. Normally I don’t think I’d do that, but—” Treace stopped talking. He was going to say that he’d been under a lot of stress having to deal with Raythien. But that wasn’t entirely true. The man hadn’t done anything wrong while under Treace’s watch. What was really bothering him was that he hadn’t spent much time with Kiril recently.
“I know,” Raythien told him. “But you didn’t have to say anything, and you did. So thanks.”
Treace didn’t reply.
“We’ve come a long way from the string on the finger days,” Raythien observed.
At first, Treace had the windows nailed shut and had moved his bed closest to the door. He’d tie a string around his finger and loop it through the door handle. It became quite the annoyance when the others needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Since he was a light sleeper anyway, he stopped doing that after a couple of days and relied on his hearing to know when the door opened, which created its own problems. Like cold drafts and lack of sleep. Not once did Raythien leave the building without first waking him. “You really aren’t a spy are you?”
“You just now getting around to believe me?”
“I never wanted to believe you,” Treace told him.
“I was wrong, you know?”
“About what?” Treace asked.
“When I said you were no better than him. I was wrong,” Raythien replied.
He knew he was referring to Shamir. Treace didn’t immediately reply and Raythien went to the corner of the building and did his business.
“Even though I killed all of your men?” Treace asked a moment later.
“You did what you had to do to survive. We all knew none of you were getting out of there alive. Shamir wouldn’t allow it.”
Treace wondered if what Brental had said was true. At the time he thought it might have just been a trick. The man had
said pretty much the same thing when he was trying to convince Treace that he had to kill the one remaining guard to prove that he wanted his freedom. It appeared he was telling the truth. It wasn’t exactly a weight off his shoulders considering they all made it out alive, but it still made him feel better about that decision regardless. Treace nodded but didn’t say anything.
“But what I don’t get is why you wrote the note. It doesn’t seem like you. I’ve been around you every moment of every day for more than a month. It doesn’t fit your personality.”
“That’s because I wrote the note,” Moffred said from behind them. “And it fits mine just fine.”
“Hey Moff,” Treace said, greeting his friend while looking over his shoulder. “A good night out?” He wondered how long his friend had been listening. Moff wasn’t quite slurring his words, but it was clear that he had been drinking. He didn’t know why Moff decided to take the blame for writing the note, but he appreciated it.
“They’re always good nights out,” Moff replied. Then excitedly he added, “And hey, I saw our friend again tonight! He says hello.”
Treace was about to ask who, but Raythien spoke first.
“Moffred—” Raythien began.
“Don’t,” Moff said, cutting him off. “Just don’t.”
“It’s been a month. When are you going to realize I’m not the monster you think I am?”
“Tell that to Slither,” Moff said, going inside.
“Slither?”
“A children’s story my father used to read to me,” Treace explained. Slither, the giant snake, in fear for its life took a young girl as hostage. The townsfolk bribed the snake with treasure, but the snake wouldn’t release her. Slither was eventually outwitted by a young man who fed the snake so much food that it was too large to exit the entrance to its lair. When it tried, it got stuck and the young hero slayed the beast with a sword. Other than being the inspiration for Treace wanting to learn how to fight with a sword, he believed the story offered many other things to think about.