Heddas Sword.jpg

by Hedda's Sword (lit)

  Cianan raised a closed fist above his head and stopped. All three riders reined in and turned to face him. Maleta read tension in every line of his body as he sniffed the air.

  "What is it?" she whispered, dreading his answer.

  "Smoke."

  Maleta sniffed, but didn't smell anything. "Are you sure?"

  Cianan looked over at her, his face grim. "I am certain. From up ahead."

  Wolf's mouth tightened. "The abbey's beyond those trees. Too late in the year, and too wet, for a forest fire."

  Maleta stared down through the darkness. Her heart pounded. "Something's wrong." Afore she could kick the piebald to plunge down the embankment, Cianan reached over and grabbed her mare's rein.

  "Do not be a fool," he snapped. "She shall break a leg. We get off and lead them to the bottom." He dismounted and drew his broadsword, the one that matched Hedda's.

  Maleta beat on the wall of ice and screamed at Hedda to disregard his advice, to hurl toward the abbey with as much speed as the Shamaru mare could summon. But her hand drew Hedda's Sword, and her body dismounted. She began picking her way through the rocks in his wake, the piebald in tow. Tzigana followed with her sorrel, and Wolf brought up the rear. It proved a long, treacherous descent. The stallion stumbled, but caught himself with a lurch.

  At the bottom, the smell of smoke increased. Cianan turned to Maleta. "Let me scout ahead. If something happened, I want proof they are gone afore we fall into the same trap."

  "Mayhaps we can help," Tzigana suggested.

  "Four's no great number." Wolf eyed Cianan. "Ranger?"

  Cianan nodded.

  "We'll wait here for your return."

  Maleta crouched aside her mare, taking a minute to check the horse's hooves for stones. She ground her teeth at the inactivity. "I should go with him."

  "You stay with us," Wolf ordered. "He'll be back with word."

  Tzigana's sorrel pawed through the snow and found some grass to nibble on. The wait seemed interminable, but Cianan returned. His face grey, he looked ill.

  Maleta tensed. No, Hedda. Please no. "What's happened?"

  He gripped her upper arm. "Someone attacked the abbey. With force."

  "How bad?" Wolf asked.

  "Bad." Cianan's eyes were bleak. "That is what burns. Whoever did it is long gone."

  Maleta forced herself to breathe as she launched herself into her saddle and kicked the pied into a gallop. Smoke clawed its way through the trees. In the distance she saw a terrible flickering glow. The mare got within sight of the abbey, but slid to a stop and would go no closer. Unprepared for the abrupt move, Maleta sailed over the horse's head and landed in the snow. Battered and bruised, she hauled herself to her feet and ran toward the burning ruin.

  The blistered gates were smashed down. Flames licked at the scattered splinters. She had almost reached them when Cianan caught her. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to a halt. She spun around, swinging a fist up at his face.

  He blocked the move with his free hand with ridiculous ease.

  "Let me go!" she snarled.

  He hung on. "You do not want to go in there."

  "Those are my friends in there!"

  "Aye," he agreed, "they were."

  Maleta froze. Her scream came out as a strangled moan. "Nay – "

  Tzigana and Wolf ran up to meet them. "We left the horses back in the trees," the Shamaru queen puffed. "They wouldn't come any closer."

  "You two should go back with the horses," Wolf said. "We can search for survivors. I've seen worse in battle."

  Maleta glared at him, jerking her arm free from Cianan's hold. "This isn't a battle. This is Nerthus' Abbey. These nuns never harmed a living soul. In Hedda's name, I'm going."

  Cianan and Wolf shared a grim look.

  "At least let me go first," Wolf said.

  They picked their way through the flames. Every thatched roof and wooden structure burned or smoldered. Arrow-riddled bodies in black nuns' robes lay sprawled around the courtyard. Ignoring the stench of death, of burning hair and flesh, of blood and offal, Maleta raced past Wolf, straight for the blackened chapel and Mother Tam's office. She barely heard Cianan call her name for the blood pounding in her ears.

  The stained glass windows were smashed. Every valuable object that could be carted away, gone. The altar had been pounded to rubble. It would've taken large men with large hammers to destroy it. Incense oil still burned across the benches. The scent of celia moonflowers wafted over the heavier scents of burning wood and flesh.

  Behind the remains of the altar, Maleta found Sister Maire's half-charred body. Her throat had been cut. Maleta leaped over Sister Maire and through the open doorway. Mother Tam lay sprawled across her desk, pierced through the heart with a spear, a guard spear, painted with Sunniva's purple, teal and gold. They'd ransacked the room, but the desk itself – and Mother Tam – hadn't been burned. Maleta heard Tzigana vomit behind her.

  How could You let this happen? "Search the outbuildings," Maleta ordered.

  "What?" Tzigana choked. "Are you mad? These women deserve better than to be left here while we conduct a search."

  "You look around. All I see are the nuns. Where are your people we left behind?"

  "We have to hurry. I'll search the rest of the buildings," Tzigana said.

  Wolf pointed to the spear. "Look around you. Sunniva did this. She really is the queen of butchers." He followed Tzigana out of the room.

  Maleta tried to move Mother Tam, realizing the spear pinned her to the desk itself. She swallowed hard and ran shaking hands along the left side of Mother Tam's body. "Tell me you had enough time. Don't let me be wrong."

  Her fingers found the indentation in the wood and pressed down. A tiny drawer slid open, and she moved around the desk to peer in. An ornate knife lay within, and she drew it out and turned to plunge in into a crack betwixt two stones in the wall. Something metallic clicked deep within the stone, and with a terrible groan, a hidden section swung open, revealing a staircase leading down.

  Were they down there, the Shamaru refugees, headed for Hedda's Tempest? Had Hedda permitted anyone to survive this carnage?

  "Let me get a light for you," Cianan offered from behind her. He drew his sword. "Paran luminoria." The sword glowed with a golden Light, more than enough to see by.

  Maleta stared at the holy Light. Cianan moved to lead the way down the stairs, but she stopped him. "I need to go first."

  "Where does this lead?"

  She studied him. "Your silence, on pain of death."

  He laughed at her. "My secrets, lady, are far greater than yours." For a moment, he flashed back to his real form, then Cianan-the-merc again. "My silence for yours."

  "Agreed." If she couldn't trust a paladin with an aura of pure gold and a sword of Light, there was no hope left in the world. "There's a tunnel leads straight to Hedda's Tempest. Mother Tam," her voice wobbled a bit, but she steadied it, "would've sent everyone there and sealed the door behind them."

  "Why do you need to go afore me?"

  She drew Hedda's Sword. "There are certain... protective measures... that'll recognize Her sword, and me, and allow us to pass through."

  "How did the Shamaru pass?"

  "This is their home. They are Her people. Blood will tell." She led the way down the hand-cut stone stairs, which seemed to go on forever, into musty darkness. Cianan's sword lit up the entire passage. The large stones lining the walls and floor looked to be cut with such precision no mortar was needed betwixt them.

  "How did you first find this?"

  She stopped and looked back at him for a long moment, tempted to tell him her past was none of his business. But the concerned interest in his eyes somehow made her answer him. "After Sunniva destroyed our home and killed my parents, a local farmer brought me to Nerthus' Abbey. When I'd... recovered... " she took a deep breath, "Mother Tam smuggled me to Hedda's Tempest." Her heart ached, but Hedda allowed no tears to fall.

  He frowned. "Why the secrecy?
"

  Again she hesitated. Again she answered. "Sunniva believes my brother's sister to be dead. Best she keeps thinking that, at least for now."

  If he thought that wording odd he left it alone. She turned away so she didn't have to see the further questions in his eyes.

  "How far away is Hedda's Tempest from Nerthus' Abbey?" he asked instead, studying the mold-tinged walls.

  Would Hedda permit an answer? Maleta waited for her throat to close or her voice to fail, but neither happened. Because he helped with Hedda's mission? Maleta gave up trying to decipher the ways of her Goddess and answered the question.

  "Far."

  "How far?"

  "The other side of the country, in the north."

  Cianan froze in midstride. "How long did it take you to get there?"

  "About an hour." She waited for his reaction.

  He looked dumbfounded. "A gate. A gate in a land with no magic."

  That explanation served as well as any. "Near enough. Come on."

  Boot steps sounded in the dark ahead of them. They both froze. Maleta listened. Someone – several someones – headed for Nerthus from Hedda's end. Maleta listened to the unique step-scrape cadence that signaled Mother Kitta. "What is Hedda's Mandate?" she called out.

  Mother Kitta appeared in the sword light, a dozen sisters in her wake, Reva and Raven among them. "'To protect the innocent, the weak and helpless. To treasure our past and guard our future, the old and the young.'"

  Maleta's throat closed, afraid to ask the question. "Did we succeed?"

  Mother Kitta placed a hand on Maleta's shoulder. "We did. All out, all safe. Tam?"

  Maleta's eyes burned. Hedda froze the tears afore they could fall. She shook her head, strangling on the howl that refused to come out.

  "'To rescue the oppressed and avenge those wrongfully sent from this life. To punish the wicked,'" Sister Reva intoned.

  Raven stared at Maleta in shock and confusion. "Mal, what – "

  Maleta held up a hand and shook her head. Not now. She couldn't deal with her friend's questions right now.

  "'To fight so others don't have to, so we all may live in peace,'" Mother Kitta continued.

  "As long as Sunniva breathes, there'll be no peace." Maleta bit the words out. "This isn't something anyone, Shamari or Shamaru, can ignore. A leader who can do this isn't to be trusted, nor followed. None of us are safe."

  "'For freedom, justice and Hedda's glory,'" Mother Kitta finished.

  "'For freedom, justice and Hedda's glory,'" the rest of them echoed.

  To Maleta's own ears, her reluctance came out. "Sunniva dies. The balance must be restored."

  "And will you lead them, Hedda's Own?" Mother Kitta challenged.

  "I will," Maleta heard herself say. "There's no one else." She stopped, appalled. What of Jovan? All she wanted was to get her brother home and live in peace. She was not a revolutionary, a general to lead a rebellion. She was not her father. I'm not.

  Hedda, apparently, was not listening.

  "I know the person to replace Sunniva," Cianan stated.

  Maleta had almost forgotten he stood there. "And will she?"

  His face was grim. "She must. There is no one else."

  Mother Kitta's grin turned savage. She was one scary individual. "Let's go fetch our queen."

  Chapter Twelve

  Cianan led Maleta and the rest of Hedda's followers out of the tunnel and into a veritable hornet's nest. Tzigana and Wolf stood, weapons drawn, betwixt the body of Mother Tam and a mob of Shamari farmers. Mother Tam had been removed from the desktop and laid on Wolf's cloak on the floor of her office, the bloodied spear aside her. The farmers aimed pitchforks and scythes at Tzigana and Wolf, but seemed to be working up the nerve to attack.

  "What goes on here?" Cianan drew his own sword to stand on the other side of Tzigana.

  One farmer with the arms of a blacksmith aimed his pitchfork toward the new threat. "This filthy Shamaru slut killed Mother Tam! We caught 'er with th' spear in her hand, Mother Tam's blood all over it." He turned to Tzigana and spat on the floor. "After all these women've done fer ye worthless drifter scum, this is how ye repay them?"

  Cianan stared at the man, disbelieving.

  "And this is how you honor Mother Tam, by spitting on the floor of her office, by drawing weapons in her chapel?" Mother Kitta demanded, stepping forward with Hedda's servants ringed behind her like a pack of wolves sizing up prey.

  The farmer ducked his head, but did not lower his weapon. "We caught 'er red-handed," he protested.

  "So the two of us alone ransacked the abbey, burning buildings and killing nuns, and then stayed to begin burial rites out of what – a sudden fit of remorse?" Wolf snapped. "Is that what we did, you old fool?"

  "I know what I saw."

  Tzigana turned to Cianan, her face blotchy with rage. Her eyes glittered. "And you spoke of peace betwixt the people and these invaders? Now do you see?"

  "Enough!" Hedda's voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls and through their minds. Combatants dropped their weapons to grab their heads. Maleta stepped betwixt the two groups. "Wilt thou waste time and energy fighting each other? Wilt thou further divide My lands rather than work together to remove the evil one who did this?"

  She turned to the farmer. "Thou say thou knowest what thou saw. Thou saw what colors were painted on the spear."

  "They were th' colors of th' crown," the farmer admitted.

  Cianan blinked his eyes to clear them. His head still rang. "Does Sunniva hold any love for the Shamaru people?"

  "Nay," a different farmer said.

  "But you believe Sunniva would arm one with her own colors and send her off to slaughter nuns?"

  "She might." The second farmer lowered his pitchfork. "Sunniva's capable of anything t' keep herself in power."

  Mother Kitta spoke up. "Sunniva's days are done. With this act, she sealed her fate."

  The first farmer saluted them with his scythe. "An' ye're goin' t' storm th' palace an' ask her t' step down?"

  Sister Reva bared her teeth. "We won't be asking, little man."

  He bristled. "Now wait a minute – "

  "I said enough!" Hedda's voice shook the walls. Weapons clattered to the floor. Only Her own followers managed to remain standing.

  Cianan clambered to his feet and helped Tzigana to hers. "Nice trick," he told Maleta.

  A chill swept over him, a glancing blow that made him gasp.

  Her face was all Hedda. "Go back to thy homes," She ordered the farmers. "Spread this tale of Sunniva's treachery. Return tonight for the homecoming."

  The farmers seemed eager to escape, fleeing the building without a backward glance.

  Wolf rolled his head, stretching his neck with an audible crack. He turned to Maleta and Mother Kitta. "We were moving the sisters to the sanatorium when they showed up. Tzigana had removed the spear. They misunderstood."

  Tzigana still vibrated with rage. "They always misunderstand! There's no reasoning with those Shamari fools."

  "I'm Shamari," Wolf reminded her. "Everyone in this room's Shamari, except you."

  She glared at him. "What're you saying?"

  "I'm saying don't make the same mistake they do, by lumping them together into us versus them. Like the Shamaru, the people, they're individuals, both good and bad."

  Cianan nodded his head. "He is right."

  Tzigana stomped off, muttering under her breath. Wolf sighed and followed.

  "We need to see to our dead," Mother Kitta said. She led them out into the courtyard.

  Cianan sheathed his sword and knelt aside Mother Tam's body. His heart ached, remembering her kindness. He turned to Maleta. "Did You see this coming?"

  "The abbey's fate wast sealed long ago," Hedda replied.

  Cianan's jaw dropped. "And You did nothing? Nerthus let it happen?"

  "Certain sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. Dozens died so thousands canst yet live free. Nerthus welcomes Her daugh
ters with open arms."

  He scooped Mother Tam into his arms and rose. "You knew, and You said nothing, did nothing. If we had known, been here sooner, we could have prevented this."

  "Thou canst not stop what We wrote in the stars."

  "There is no justification for slaughter. There had to be another way." He carried Mother Tam out into the swirling snow. Maleta followed.

  The sanatorium stood near the broken gateway. Wolf paced outside, standing guard on the threshold. "They're preparing the bodies for the homecoming ceremony."

  Maleta touched Cianan's shoulder. "Men aren't permitted within during the preparations," she explained in her own voice. "I'll take her from here."

  Cianan handed Mother Tam to her.

  "Return to Mother Tam's office," Maleta ordered. "Bring what you find atop her desk."

  He frowned, puzzled. "What?" But she had turned and already carried Mother Tam into the building. The crisp snow-tinged air could not eradicate the stench of smoke and carnage. Cianan wrinkled his nose and looked at Wolf.

  The merc shrugged. "I'd do as she says."

  "They knew. They knew this was coming and did nothing."

  "Hard land. Hard gods."

  "I do not understand your land or your gods."

  "The strong survive. The weak don't. It's the way of nature, and the way of Shamar."

  Cianan growled and turned away. People were not animals. There was a better way.

  "Careful," Kikeona warned. "This is their way. They govern their own destiny. They have now chosen to fight Sunniva. We have chosen to help, to try to keep Maleta alive in the coming battle. We are not here to convert them to a new way."

  "This way is madness." Cianan stalked back to the chapel, around blackened benches and over the bloodstained floor. The stench of death lingered. Slipping past the ruin of the altar, he crossed into Mother Tam's office. His gaze locked on the bloody spear, and burning rage filled him. He looked at the desk. Expecting the ghost of Mother Tam, he saw instead two folded stacks of bright silk robes. They were the pale green of new spring leaves. The color of hope. Cianan's eyes burned. Sadness replaced the rage as an almost-forgotten peace filled him. It possessed not the familiar golden Light, but an aura of tranquility, tinged with green.