"I'm certain that I should be."
They passed beneath the outer columns, suddenly lost to the black of night. The temple was surrounded by a conifer forest, nearly a mile from Vail itself. The Deldri camp was not far beyond the forest border, close enough to run to town but far enough away to remain unheard. Teveres goaded Mareth on in silence, pushing into the tree line. He caught sight of their campfire's reassuring glow. The tall, broad figure's shadow that peaked out between the trees could only be Garren.
"I never believed them, you know," Mareth said softly as they approached the camp. "No son of Dayle could kill his own family in cold blood. It was not in him to create such a child. Your parents... your sisters... it was a tragedy. I'm so sorry for your loss."
Mareth's words lanced Teveres's barely-healed emotional wounds. Covering his vulnerability, Teveres laughed bitterly under his breath. "My father was a better man than I could ever be."
"You underestimate yourself, child."
"Aren't you worried about what I might do to you if you're wrong?"
"It never entered my mind." Truth.
When Teveres and Mareth stepped into the clearing, Garren and Les were standing with the fire between themselves and the newcomers. Garren looked much the same as ever, his hand lightly gripping his long blade. Beside him was a transformed Les. Where he was previously scrawny, daily training with Teveres had started to develop his musculature. His face was peppered with stubble too infrequently shaved. He wore clothes picked up from Alta, all dusky browns and cheap fabric. A heavy belt hung around his waist holding his well-used dagger.
Mareth peeled back his hood to reveal the face beneath. He was a wrinkled man in his 70's, with pale skin, thin hair and pleasant dark brown eyes. A full beard obscured the line of his jaw. In his prime he might have been taller and quite muscular, but in the firelight he was slouched and atrophied with age. Teveres stepped just to the side of the priest, far enough behind him to cut off an escape. Mareth held up his hands in an amenable posture.
"There's no need to be alarmed boys," said Mareth. His eyes flickered over to Teveres. "Set down your weapons. We're on the same side."
There was a snorting noise from Garren, more amused than insulted.
Teveres nodded to his elder. "As you wish." He indicated one of the bedrolls. "Please, be comfortable."
The tension in the air relaxed when Mareth took his seat. The others followed suit. Mareth did not take his eyes off of Teveres, who he studied with chilling diligence.
"You look just like him, you know," Mareth said wearing a faint smile. "If it weren't for your eyes I'd swear you were Dayle's ghost."
The priest's scrutiny was far from comforting. Teveres's looks were occasionally to his advantage, though he did not enjoy the attention they brought.
"You don't want to know why we came to find you?" Teveres managed.
Mareth chuckled, finally breaking his gaze to glance around the fire. "I see you met another one like you. Les, isn't that right?"
Les gave a start at the sound of his name, "How do you know who I am?"
"And Garren," Mareth addressed Garren heedless of Les's words. "The last I heard you were working with the Coalition, but it does not look like that has held. It is fortunate for our people." Mareth cleared his throat, "No, Teveres, I was not surprised. You're not the only one who has been looking for me, but I am glad that it is you who found me and not them."
"Them?" Garren asked with his gruff voice.
"The Followers, the Council, the Kaldari - at least, assuming you are indeed clear of the Coalition. I am mistaken far more often than I should like."
Teveres perked to look at Garren, whose loyalty he constantly reassessed. With a steady gaze, Garren replied, "No, I do not answer to the Coalition this day."
"Hm. Yes." Mareth gestured openly to the group, "What is it that you want from me?"
Mareth's wandering words were dizzying. Teveres leaned forward, calling command of the exchange to himself. "We have news, Priest. Three weeks ago we came from Torvid's Rest, where Drei has set up a base camp. She plans to take Nivenea."
Teveres again expected surprise or some other alarmed emotional state, but instead Mareth was still, the thoughts spiraling behind his dark old eyes. Mareth looked to Garren. "What has changed?"
Wordlessly, Garren pulled back the sleeve of his left arm to reveal his newly-acquired stone tattoo. After removing the ebonstone from the Kaldari they killed outside Torvid's Rest, Garren found a skin crafter in Alta to sink the shards into his forearm. The area around the stones was still inflamed from the recent minor surgery.
"She has enough for her army," Garren explained.
"She does?" Mareth said breathlessly. He laced his fingers together, pausing a moment to collect himself. "That is grave news."
"Do you know what we can do about it?" Les interjected.
Bemused, Mareth glanced at Les. "Such irony, the Deldri seeking council from an old Pr [romuot;Suiest. History mocks us."
"What do you mean by that?" Teveres asked.
"As Priests we keep the history that no one else knows," Mareth said patiently, as if he were in temple teaching young initiates. "You know, I'm sure, what the two of you are. There's no way you couldn't know it, you're born to be something quite different. In the days well before my time, the Deldri were anointed as leaders - the godking was the last of them, but for hundreds of years before that the Deldri ruled. You were the ones with the answers, the men and women closest to the gods. If you were born in those times, this conversation would be deemed ridiculous..." he frowned, "But these are not the times of old. Nivenea must answer for many sins."
"Like killing children," Les said pointedly.
"Yes, like that. Killing the children who could help us. Your father, Teveres, he was wise to fight for you. He believed that the Deldri would save us someday, and I only hope that he was right."
"My father refused to let his son die," said Teveres. "I doubt he believed in much more than that. There's nothing...intrinsically extraordinary about me."
"That's not what people believed when the Deldri walked the earth... but you did not bring me here for stories." Mareth sighed, "If what you've told me is true, then there may be nothing we can do to stop Drei. The High Priest of Nivenea has taken control of the city, and he is... not who he seems."
"He works for the Followers of Shelm," Garren commented.
Alarmed, Teveres glared at Garren. In four weeks, Garren had said nothing of Leniq. He only implored that Mareth would be the man to ask for help.
"The Followers," Teveres said in disbelief, "Leniq works for the Followers, and you didn't think to mention it? That's ridiculous."
"I didn't mention it," Garren's voice was harsh with warning, "Because you didn't need to know."
"Your friend is correct," Mareth said calmly. "I suspect that it was Leniq who arranged the disappearance of the governor and governess."
"But why?" Les's brow was deeply furrowed. "Leniq has nothing to gain. He's not even allowed to serve in politics."
"Nothing? Who would oppose him?" Mareth laughed. "The Divine Council is scattered across the lands. Without us to choose a new leader, Leniq will be able to reform the clergy as he would like it. And Baron, you of all people should know that the mandate against the gifted in government is easily thwarted."
"The Justices will never answer to him," said Teveres.
"The Justices who are loyal to Nivenea's leaders might never answer to him, but those that are left already have. I-" Mareth's words were cut short.
"That's interesting." Aia's soft, inquisitive voice sounded from just beyond the trees. "Why are those Justices imprisoned in the first place?"
Teveres glanced over his shoulder. Aia stood behind him, her cloak hanging loose over her mauve healing garb. Her smile was so fleeting that he could barely perceive it.
Working late dear? he thought at her mockingly. Over the weeks of travel, their thought-communication became commonplace.
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Wouldn't you like to know, she quipped. Her gaze did not waver from Mareth, whose jaw was loosened with shock. She lowered herself to sit with Teveres between herself and the High Priest, hands clasped in her lap.
"Aiasjia," said Mareth, "I never thought I would meet you."
"I think it's a little strange to hear you say that," Aia said with a chuckle. "You've been making decisions about me for 25 years and I only learned your name a few weeks ago."
"I can't defend what was done to you," Mareth conceded. "I am genuinely sorry, Healer."
"What were you saying about imprisoned Justices?" Les asked, steering the discussion back on track.
Aia raised an eyebrow at Mareth, who seemed to lower his mental barriers a notch. He regarded Les as he spoke. "Your mind reader picked up on my thoughts regarding the Justices stationed on the borders, those who saw the coming Kaldari threat and were taken for 'debriefing' by the Commanding Justice, Rien. The last I heard they were being held in the basement of the University Pyramid."
"Why would they be imprisoned for that?" said Les.
Mareth steepled his fingers. He looked to Garren, who watched him impassively. "Because the notion that the Kaldari could challenge our borders upsets the very core of our ways. The people already question the gods."
"Why don't you?" Teveres asked quietly.
"Irony upon irony," Mareth shook his head, "My faith is strong because of you, the Deldri. You are the forces of gods on the earth. It is to you, and only you, to release them."
Worry creased Aia's features. Teveres had become attuned to the subtle shifts in her resonance. What is it? he asked her privately.
Aia's lips pressed into a thin line. She waved him off with the flick of her hand. "That's not what we're here for," she answered Mareth's unspoken words. "You think that the Justices in the Unive [ in "Thrsity could help us."
"If anyone can, it would be them. I can give you exact instructions on how to find them." Mareth spoke earnestly, a man with very few options left. He reached out to effective strangers with information which could get him executed. Teveres could not help but respect that kind of risk-taking.
"Who is Adreth?"
"He's..." Mareth hesitated, "You must excuse me, I'm not accustomed to having someone listen to everything I think."
"Might want to remember that," said Aia.
"Yes. Well, Adreth, he is an intrepid Lieutenant out of the Inlet of Tren. His men look up to him. I believe he could rally the Justices, given the chance. Though, I cannot be sure he is alive. He was taken months ago after an incident with the Kaldari ships."
"The Kaldari what?" Teveres said.
"Ships," Mareth repeated. "The Coalition has been building seafaring ships for the last five years."
"He's correct," said Garren, "Ship-building was Drei's first major project as Commander of the Coalition."
"No one sails in the ocean," Les scoffed, "It's insane. Even our engineers gave up on that long ago."
"Your people are unmotivated," Garren's passive insult was without emotion. "Dozens of my people have given their lives to create the vessels. It was not a task taken lightly."
"How long has the council known?" asked Les.
"Almost as long as it has taken place," said Mareth. "We were unconcerned. Nivenea has five times the population and more than that of resources. We are protected by Justices and Clergy; the Coalition has not been considered a threat... though things have changed significantly."
"That's speaking kindly," Teveres said in a dry tone.
Mareth's silence was his answer.
"Does he have anything else to share?" Garren asked Aia.
Aia paused momentarily before shaking her head. "No, he held nothing back."
"Then we should go. Take his instructions."
"Please," Mareth said with a feeble smile. "You can stay the night at my accommodations. My guard arranged for me to rent a small house in Vail. You look like you have not seen a bed in some time. A single night will not delay you significantly, and if you wait... I may be able to find you a set of horses in the morning."
"That's generous," Les said suspiciously.
"It's the least I can do.&quo [I c"+0">Marett; Mareth's face was lit with reverence, "We owe your kind far more than that."
Aia and Teveres exchanged glances. He's not lying, and he has a good point, Aia thought to Teveres. Anyway, there's someone I want you to meet in Vail.
You have me interested. Teveres shrugged at Garren, who shrugged back. Les gave a nod.
"Alright, then," Teveres said aloud. "Though we may have some explaining to do where it comes to your guard."
Together, the group packed up what was left around the campsite and set out towards the town. The crunching forest pine needles were dimly lit with Les's tempered kelspar. Aia kept pace with Teveres, her hood drawn over her face. They walked just behind Mareth, who promised that the journey would not be far.
So tell me about this person I need to meet, Teveres sent his thoughts to Aia.
He's another Deldri, she replied.
Teveres perked at her words. If the three of them had survived, it made sense that there would be more Deldri in the world. He had not considered that they might meet one, in Vail of all places. It was too intriguing to pass by.
How did you find him?
I stopped in the bar for a drink, and he propositioned me. She looked at him sideways, eyes glittering with amusement.
I hope you said yes.
He's an ass.
I guess that's a Deldri male trait. What does he do? Did you find where he lives?
He manipulates physical objects, I don't know much more than that. I didn't even catch where he lives or where he was going. I don't think he would want anything to do with us, though. He's... not right.
Not right how?
He's... well, you'll have to meet him, but he's kind of a mess.
Interesting indeed. Teveres glanced back at their companions. Les and Garren walked in tandem, the two of them talking softly between breaths on the subject of archery. In the last few weeks, Les had developed a near-obsession with finding a bow to practice with. Two guards, a dark-skinned man and woman, took up the rear. They were not best-pleased with being knocked out by Les and Garren then awakened by the jolt of Aia's healing powers. We shouldn't delay our trip to Nivenea much longer, even if it is for another Deldri [e=" sh.
I know, but-
Is that everything you found out?
He was well known by the town. He had several friends and... people who were more than friends... in the bar.
Girlfriends?
I wouldn't use such a strong word, and they weren't all girls.
Her insolence made him chuckle, drawing an uncertain glance from Mareth. Teveres returned it with a straight face.
I could look into it tonight, he continued. See what I can find out at the bar and go from there.
Doubt that would be very helpful. You should rest while we can, we'll look for him on the way out. It's a small town, he can't be too hard to find.
I'm not tired. In truth, he wasn't. Finding Mareth after weeks of searching, discovering their next goal... it was all very exciting. He was too energized to sleep even if he wanted to. Aia, in contrast, had dark circles under her eyes from the days she spent healing and gathering intelligence when they stopped in a village. She insisted on doing something useful wherever she went, and her skills had provided a steady source of income and rumors. Her contributions came at a price. She had lost weight from the stress of long days walking and energy spent healing; her previously soft edges were beginning to sharpen.
Suit yourself. I'm going to sleep on a real mattress.
The lights from the settlement were bleeding into the tree line. Mareth pointed out the lit windows of a two-story house just beyond the forest.
"This is where I'm staying," he said, "Not far now."
A grunt was Garren's only response. Teveres gave Mareth a rewarding nod.
T
he ivy-covered house stood alone, the street nearby leading towards the small town with ever-increasing building density. A fence surrounded Mareth's building, a well-kept garden within its gates. Oil sconces were lit on either side of the door. Mareth ushered them towards the house, knocking in a specific rhythm once they were there. A short, plump, dark-haired woman in an apron answered with her face awash with relief.
"Priest," she said breathlessly. "Are you alright? Who are-" she looked over Garren, Les, Aia and Teveres suspiciously, keeping the door only cracked.
"These are my guests, Idri," Mareth explained quickly. "They are staying the night at my request."
The door crept open as Idri's features softened. "That's well enough. Come in, all of you."
The house reminded Teveres of his grandparent's home in Ilvan. Old woods and warm colors blanketed the living room with its sofa and four armchairs, which opened up into a substantial kitchen at the far side of the [r srm c house. To the far right corner was a half-wall surrounding a cozy eating area. A brick fireplace in the middle of the downstairs broke up the rooms, the heat from it making his nearly numb skin prickle.
"I am sure you're all tired," Mareth said to the travelers. "We have plenty of room for you."
"Yes, of course," Idri piped up. "Please, set down your things."
Aia tentatively set her bag down on the shoe bench in the entryway. She gave a respectful nod to the mistress of the house, "Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am."
Aia's manners brightened Idri's smile. She patted Aia's shoulder. "Not at all dear. Mareth's friends are our friends. If you come upstairs we'll get you a proper place to sleep, it's far too late to be awake."
Garren nodded in agreement, turning to address Mareth. "The horses?"
"Will be dealt with. First you get some rest," Mareth indicated the stairs off to their left.
Teveres hung back, drawn to the town. He tapped Les on the shoulder.
"Here, would you mind taking this?" He offered Les his backpack. "I have some things I'd like to do in town before we leave."
"Tonight?" Garren, Idri and Mareth spoke in unison.
Tragedy (Forsaken Lands) Page 18