Tahn

by L. A. Kelly

“I give the orders!” Samis stood up but leaned quickly against the wall. “Whistle for my horse!” he commanded.

  “No, sir. You’re not well yet. I wish you would let it go and leave Tahn to whatever life he’s found.” He turned to walk out.

  But Samis lunged toward him and grabbed his arm. When Lucas turned around, Samis struck him in the face. “You will not defy me!” he yelled. “As long as you’re here, you will obey my orders!”

  Lucas pulled away from his grasp. “Or what? Will you kill me, Master? I don’t fear it anymore.”

  Samis’s face reddened. “You have always feared me! You are still here because you fear me. And Tahn fears me too. He knows I will come for him. And I will not disappoint him.”

  Lucas sighed. “You’re not as strong as you were, Lord. What would happen if you got to Onath? Tahn would either kill you quickly or walk away in pity and leave you to whatever it is that ails you.”

  “I know his weaknesses,” Samis replied. “I can defeat him. And even if I did not, what better way to die?”

  Lucas looked at him in surprise. He had never before heard the master concede the possibility of defeat. Perhaps it is really over, he thought. Perhaps he knows that he will not recover from whatever grips him. “Sir,” he said sadly, “before anything else, we must have the provisions. I am going to Alastair as I said. Rest until I return. We can speak of travel then, if you insist on it.”

  Samis sat on the edge of his bed and glared at the younger warrior. “I don’t need you. You don’t think I can manage, but you’re wrong about me. I could kill you if I chose to. But you’ve been loyal. It’s the others who’ve earned death. I will find them. But first the Dorn.”

  “Whatever you say,” Lucas muttered. He left the room as Samis lay down again. Shaking his head, Lucas went out and mounted his horse.

  “Come on, Danger. Let’s leave him to himself for a while.” He spurred the horse and parted Valhal’s gate for the path to Alastair.

  Samis lay on the bed, waiting for nearly an hour, then pulled himself up slowly. Leviathan would be in his usual place. Lucas would know better than to meddle with such normalcy. He must take water, of course. His knives and sword. He dressed quickly and concealed the knives in his clothes. Then he strapped on his sword and looked across the room at the table beside the far wall. Another sword lay there flickering in the light of the oil lamp beside it. It was Tahn’s. And the time had come to return it to him.

  He walked slowly across the room. The dizziness was not so bad as it had been, and the blurred vision was gone. He lifted the sword.

  Tahn! So often I saw it in you. You would have loved to fight me if only you’d had the proper chance. Now I will give it to you, and you will not be able to turn it down.

  With Tahn’s sword in hand he pushed himself through the chamber door to find Leviathan. Tahn would fight him. Surely there was no Name he could now call upon to erase the anger in his heart. Samis smiled, remembering Tahn at seventeen shouting his hatred through locked doors.

  “Some day I’ll kill you!” he had raged. “I’ll kill you!” His failure with Netta Trilett had caused his punishment then, just as it had again. The boy should have learned his lesson.

  He will have to fight, Samis reasoned. And if I cannot best him, I shall win over him another way. He can’t escape what I’ve made of him. He must kill me or die. And because he thinks he’s changed, my blood will haunt him forever.

  Hours later, Lucas returned with his bags full. He had taken some of the money Samis had gotten from the young Trent. Why steal if it wasn’t necessary?

  But it was a troubling trip. Burle and several men with him were drinking and creating havoc in the town. They bragged openly about stealing from the mercenary on the hill. Valhal was probably not safe anymore, and Burle and his friends had so quickly become a rogue gang of hoodlums and thieves.

  He entered Valhal’s gates quietly, struck as he had been before by the barrenness of the place. There was not a sound. Perhaps he is sleeping again, Lucas thought. But Samis’s room was empty. His weapons, and Tahn’s, were gone.

  Lucas ran to Leviathan’s stable. The animal was gone too. Lucas spat into the hay. He had hoped to put off this trip, but the master had a bullheaded determination. He would be on his way to Onath already. And there was only one thing to be done now, like it or not.

  Lucas went back to his horse and swung himself into the saddle. He’d have to follow. Burle and his men might kill Samis if they found him alone, and he still couldn’t let that happen.

  He hurried through Valhal’s gate again, perhaps for the final time. It made no sense to him why he continued to help the man who had hurt so many. Or why he did not want Samis murdered. If ever a man deserved it! He shook his head. It was a mission that compelled him without reason, but he would obey it until the man was finally dead and he was free of him forever.

  26

  All of the boys except Vari gathered with Temas in Netta’s room on their second night. The little girl was afraid to have a room alone, so Netta had set the child’s bed beside hers. Now both beds were full of children, and Netta sat at her dressing-table chair.

  “Teacher walks better, but he still hasn’t given us a lesson in all the time we’ve been here,” Doogan pointed out.

  “Everything is new,” she told them. “It will take some time to get lessons sorted out.”

  “Do you think we won’t need lessons anymore?” Rane asked.

  “You will still need lessons. But they will be different, I expect.”

  “Why did he go to the guardhouse again to sleep?” Doogan pressed. “Why won’t he come inside?”

  Netta tried to smile reassuringly. “It’s only been two days. Give it time.”

  “Do you think he’s avoiding us?” Stuva asked.

  “No, dear,” Netta answered honestly. “I think he’s avoiding me.”

  Temas looked bewildered. “Why would he do that?”

  Netta shook her head. “I can’t explain that very well tonight.”

  “But he hasn’t even seen our rooms!” Duncan exclaimed. “I want him to see my real bed and everything!”

  All of the children were nodding their heads in agreement, and Netta smiled. “Why don’t you go and tell him?”

  “You mean right now?” Doogan questioned.

  “Sure. You all know the way to the guardhouse.”

  “Come with us!” Temas urged.

  “No. This is for you to do.”

  For a moment they just looked at her.

  “He won’t bite,” Briant put in shyly.

  Giggles swept over them, and they were soon on their feet and running down the curved oak staircase to the main floor.

  At the ruckus, Hildy dashed from the kitchen in time to see them pouring out the front door. “How good it is to have this place rocked with children!” she laughed. “It is almost like Netta and her so many cousins all over again.”

  She turned and saw Jarel standing at the top of the stairs.

  “One little girl and a crowd of noisy boys, Hildy? Is it just the same?”

  “Oh, Jarel.” She stepped toward him. “I’m so sorry. You must miss them terribly.”

  “I just don’t understand why of the five boys I’m the one who lives.”

  “God has kept you for his purpose, Jarel. I thank God you’re here! Please, join me as I finish up for the night. It’s not good for you to stay to yourself.”

  “You love to mother everyone, don’t you?”

  “The lot of you need it! Even Benn. And what better calling in life. Now come on, and I’ll spice you a bit of cider.”

  Vari sat cross-legged on the floor of the guardhouse entry. Tahn, also on the floor, leaned his back against the wall near him. He knew he needed to discuss Leah, but with the Wittleys in Merinth, there seemed no hurry for that. Vari had other things on his mind anyway.

  “You’re better about this place now?” the youth asked.

  “Better. You deserve more than a c
ave.”

  “You do too, Tahn. But Jarel doesn’t like us very much.”

  “He has nothing against you. He liked his family the way it was before, and he can’t be blamed for that.”

  Vari suddenly had a sober expression. “After we met Marcus, Jarel asked me about you and the tincture. Was it hard, Tahn, getting clean?”

  Tahn stared at him a moment and suddenly felt like shouting. He’d forgotten all about it!

  “Vari, God spared me! Like he spared you! To such an extent, I didn’t even notice. I didn’t feel a thing!”

  Suddenly there was a clamor of children outside. They came bursting through the doors in the dim light and nearly tripped over Vari.

  Tahn pulled himself to his feet. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, Teacher,” Rane told him. “We came to get you!”

  “Come see our rooms!” Temas begged and reached her little arms around his waist.

  “You ran over here in such excitement for that?” Tahn questioned.

  “Yes, sir,” Stuva told him with reserve. “You haven’t been in the house. You don’t even know what it’s like.”

  He looked at their faces with genuine surprise. “It’s that important to you?”

  “We don’t want you to leave us,” Temas said, clinging to him still.

  “It’s because of you we’re here,” Tam added. “But you don’t even eat with us now.”

  It was true. But it was certainly not their fault. They’d been served in the dining room, which was more than Tahn could take. He sighed. “All right,” he told them. “I’ll come. You show me your rooms.”

  But it was a struggle. The house was a painful reminder. Anywhere else, even on these grounds, it was not so bad. But the house had been the abode of newlyweds. He could imagine Lady Netta as haunted as he was by the memory.

  But Temas and Rane had his hands, and he walked with them across the wide lawn.

  “Why don’t you stay with us tonight?” Tam asked. “You can have my bed.”

  “Or you can have our whole room,” Doogan offered. “We can go in with Duncan and Stuva if you want to be alone.”

  Tahn smiled at their fond efforts toward him. Without even trying, somehow he’d gained their love. Another gift from God, the eternal, merciful Giver.

  He stopped and hugged the nearest of them. You’ve given me love for them, Lord. How warm and wonderful it feels. Like being alive from the dead.

  Tahn did stay in Doogan and Tam’s room that night, but he was far from alone. All of the children, even Vari and Temas, crowded in, and they camped out together on the floor, their new pillows all in a line. Well after midnight, Netta looked in and found them. Quietly, she sneaked in and covered the little ones with blankets. Then she sneaked out again with a smile.

  It was a busy day that followed. Tahn knew that Benn Trilett was receiving messengers from the other noblemen of the land. Sympathy for their loss. Gifts for rebuilding. It was as though the rest of the nobility followed Lionell Trent’s lead and gauged the Trilett heart toward them by Benn’s response. In addition to that, the people of Onath had spread the word far and wide that Benn was gathering soldiers. Men came every few hours to offer themselves for the post.

  But different guests drew attention in the late afternoon. Kert Wittley and three of his children came rumbling up the lane with their farm wagon laden with goods.

  As Netta greeted them with appreciation, Tahn stepped forward from beside the pond, followed closely by a dripping wet Vari, who’d been swimming.

  Kert Wittley gave Tahn a quick bow. “Mr. Dorn, my friends I told you about—they and I—we felt badly that we couldn’t come in answer to the children’s plea for help. We owe you an apology, sir. We did nothing but pray for you. I hope you forgive us for not taking to arms. A hard thing it is, fearing for the wives and little ones.”

  Tahn shook his head. “You cared for my children. You owe me no apology. I thank you for the prayers. They did me more good than your arms could have. I owe you my gratitude.”

  Kert gestured to his wagon. “Well, anyway, we all—and that’s about six families—we wanted to do something for you. Thinking of all of you in a cave! Lord o’ mercy! We’ve been poor but not that bad off. And Lady Trilett, how she lost her home and such! We can’t do so fine, you know, but we all sent what we could just to make the way a little easier.”

  “Sir!” Netta exclaimed. “We have enough!”

  “I couldn’t have rested, ma’am, thinking about the children! I couldn’t have rested not knowing for sure. Your men, they said they’d be fine, but you know how men are sometimes. Wouldn’t admit to a need if it bit ’em in the face! And besides, I felt guilty not coming to help the young man when God knows I could have.”

  Netta was looking at the wagon with its array of garden produce, butchered meats, and woven wool. “Sir—”

  Wittley looked at Tahn. “I’d be obliged if you’d take ’em. Take a load off my conscience, if you know what I mean.”

  Tahn nodded to Netta. He knew what it meant to the man, though the rural families, facing winter, surely had a greater need for such goods than the Triletts did.

  Netta looked from Tahn to the farmer for a moment. “All right,” she finally said. “I’ll go get Ham to help us unload.”

  Tahn would have suggested Vari’s assistance, but when he turned toward the boy, he stopped cold. Vari only had eyes for Leah. And Leah made no secret of how she felt.

  “So good to see you again,” she told Vari with a smile far from timid. “I have prayed every day for your safety.”

  Netta was back quickly with the faithful servant couple. “Stay to dinner with us and rest the night,” she told the Wittleys. “And allow us to return a gift to your families as a thanks for your generosity.”

  Kert gave her a quick smile. “I welcome your hospitality, ma’am.” He went around the back with Ham and the wagon to unload.

  “You can come with me,” Hildy told the three Wittley youths. “Be a couple of hours before dinner, but anyone that’s been traveling has need of a good bite to tide them over till then.”

  Vari moved to go with them, but Tahn caught his arm. Now that the girl was right in front of their faces, he’d have to say something while he had the chance.

  “Vari,” he began when the others were gone. “About Leah—”

  “Pretty, isn’t she?”

  Tahn cleared his throat.

  At that moment, a guard came running to them from the gate at the head of the lane. “Mr. Dorn! Sir!”

  Tahn tensed immediately, knowing there was worry in the man’s tone. “What is it?”

  “We’ve caught one of the mercenary men come looking the place over. He says he’s alone, but I don’t believe him. Armed to the teeth, he is! And I knew his face myself as one that was with the baron’s men searching the countryside after Benn Trilett’s head.”

  “What have you done with him?”

  “Nothing without your word or Lord Trilett’s, sir. And he asks for you by name. But then they all know you, don’t they?”

  “I’ll speak to him.”

  “You want me to come?” Vari asked. “It might be Marcus.” “No,” Tahn said immediately. “Stay with the children. It might not be Marcus.”

  As quickly as he could manage, Tahn went with the guard to the trees by the gate. Three of the Triletts’ men were gathered around a young blond man slumped beside a tree. His hands were tied behind his back. As Tahn approached, one of the guards struck the prisoner in the face.

  “Stop,” Tahn told them. “Let me talk to him.”

  The young warrior looked up at him. It was Lorne.

  “He fought us,” one of the guards explained. “As soon as we got close.”

  “He’s not fighting you now,” Tahn said, but he could see that Lorne still wore the garb of the dark angels and had been armed as the guard had said.

  “He was on the wall, sir. He might have been in the yard in seconds
. You warned us about such attacks.”

  “I wanted to see if you were here, Tahn,” the young prisoner said. “That’s all!”

  “He fought us off like a demon!” a guard argued. “He had more in mind than a look!”

  “I was afraid!” Lorne admitted. “I knew I wouldn’t have a chance if you weren’t here. I thought they’d kill me, that’s why I fought! I never should have come.”

  Tahn lowered to one knee. “Why did you?”

  “I—I need decent work, so I can send money to my family. They sorely need it. I thought to offer myself to the Triletts’ service. But it was a foolish chance to take—an enemy coming back. I shouldn’t have done it!” He stopped and swallowed hard. The desperation was clear in his eyes. “Please let me go, Tahn! I swear I’ll not trouble you. It wasn’t to my liking what they did to you and what we did to these people. You know I didn’t want it! Now I can hardly—”

  One of the local guards cut in, glaring. “You admit you took part in the Trilett murders?”

  Lorne bowed his head. Tahn knew the truth. He could do nothing but own to it. “Yes, sir.”

  The guard scowled. “Onath may yet have its hanging.” He grasped the prisoner’s arm roughly. “Shall I call for Lord Trilett for this judgment?”

  “No!” Lorne cried. “Tahn, please! My mother’s got a hope in me. They need my help. You weren’t the right one to hang, I know that, but—”

  He stopped when he saw Tahn’s eyes, so dark and distant.

  “Oh, God.” There was a tremor in the young man’s voice. “No.” He hung his head again. He seemed to sink before them, broken.

  Tahn was remembering when he’d first met Lorne and how hurt the boy had looked when he knew he was being sold by his own father. Yet he’d gone back to his family now. And for them, he’d come to him for help.

  “Lorne.” Tahn lifted the young man’s face and saw the anguish in his eyes. He moved his hand to his shoulder. “There’ll be no more talk of hanging.” He turned to the guard. “Let him go.”

  “What? Sir! The Lord Trilett—”