Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  “Why?” She stilled, then cocked her head again, as though picking up some distant sound. Moments later, she turned her attention back to him. “Wouldn’t you scream if it was you?”

  “I imagine if something terrible happened to me that I would scream, yes,” he said. “Was that it? Did something terrible happen?”

  “Terrible, yes. Horrific. Unspeakable.”

  “What?”

  “So many dead. So many still dying.”

  “Who’s dead?”

  “So many.”

  “Excuse us, Klynn,” Mara said. She stood, stepped away, and then motioned for Dixon to join her. “I can’t tell what’s wrong,” she whispered. “Maybe she’s not in her right mind, or maybe she’s in shock. I don’t think we’ll get anything more from her. Perhaps we should—”

  “Shock, yes,” the woman spoke out, as though Mara’s comments had been directed to her. “No,” she then said with a shake of her head, “that’s not right. It’s just that I keep reliving it all and . . . it goes on and on.” She held Mara’s gaze. “I’m not crazy.” She motioned for her guests to regain their seats. “It’s just been so awful. They keep searching and finding and . . .”

  “I’m sorry. I meant no offense,” Mara said, “but we’re short on time and we don’t want to trouble you. Perhaps we should move on.”

  “Please, don’t leave.” Klynn grabbed Mara’s forearm. “I’ll tell you what happened. I think your coming here is good for me. I’ve not been myself for weeks now. But you’re Oathtakers. You give me . . . hope.” She glanced about, her eyes narrowed. “There is no screaming now,” she said with conviction, “is there?”

  “That’s right.” Mara said. “Tell us, what happened?”

  “It sounds impossible. Had I not seen it, I would not have believed it myself. That dreadful woman. Who would have believed it of her? Oh, I should have done something! But what? What could I have done?”

  “What dreadful woman? Who are you talking about?” Dixon asked.

  “Lilith. That demon, Lilith!”

  “Of the first family?” Mara asked.

  The woman nodded.

  “What about her? What’s she done?”

  Klynn relayed the story of how Lilith came to Polesk accompanied by an army of thugs from Chiran, how she deceived the parents of infants so as to murder their children, how the soldiers at her bidding went house-to-house seeking any child that might otherwise have escaped her wrath, and finally, how they now held the city and its surrounds captive.

  “Oh dear, Klynn. How dreadful for you!” Mara exclaimed.

  “The wailing, the lamenting. It has gone on for weeks now.”

  “And that’s why you asked if there were people screaming.”

  “That’s right.”

  “So, these Chiranian soldiers who remained behind are still killing people?” Dixon asked.

  “Yes. They remain on guard for anyone who may have escaped Lilith’s orders. They watch all entrance and exit points to ensure no one escapes the city. And they roam the surrounding lands to seek out any infants she may have missed. But you know, I think the worst part is seeing some people give away the whereabouts of those in hiding.”

  Dixon and Mara exchanged a meaningful glance. “This all must explain the bodies we saw last night,” she said to him. “Why would Lilith not allow anyone to leave the city?” she then asked Klynn. “I don’t understand.”

  “To be certain word does not get out.”

  “And if it did?”

  “Oh, ma’am, she is only done in Polesk. Now she’s making her way through all of Oosa, city by city, village by village.”

  “To do the same elsewhere!” Mara exclaimed.

  “She said as much. She said that if the people did not deliver to her the child that she sought . . .”

  “Do you know where she went from here?”

  “No. I only know that she’ll devour every city in her wake.”

  “Oh dear, Klynn,” Mara said. “I’m terribly sorry for everything you’ve been through and we thank you, but we have to go now. We need to get to sanctuary.”

  “You still want to go there even though you’ve learned what you came to Polesk for?” Dixon asked.

  “Yes. I want to see Ted. Maybe he can tell us more.”

  “I know the best ways through the city,” Klynn said as she got to her feet, “and all the shortcuts and alternate routes. I feel you’ve brought me back from the brink of insanity and I’m so, so grateful. I’m going along to help you.”

  Dixon stepped out of the alley. They’d followed the same pattern over the past couple hours, slowly making their way to sanctuary. Occasionally city residents passed them, all wearing faces of fear and defeat, like masks of sorrow. They went through the steps of living, but seemed to have lost their grasp on what transpired around them or were without the will to do anything about it.

  No one smiled. No one chattered. Other than the soldiers who stopped to harass the people from time to time, the city was like a ghost town inhabited by breathing spooks.

  Mara peeked around the corner, then gasped when Dixon nearly collided into her. “You frightened me!” she exclaimed quietly, a hand to her breast.

  He put a finger to his lips, then motioned for her and Klynn to move back. They all stepped over odds and ends littering the ground: an old metal cup, now rusting and dented; a rug, weathered and threadbare; scraps of food waste, ground together and rotting; an old flower pot sporting a dead rosemary plant that someone might once have used to provide a quick addition to a recipe, or as a remedy for a headache; a tattered blanket; old boots with holes and sandals with missing ties; broken dishware; and an old rag doll that, if it could talk, would likely tell tales of great comfort and later, of painful neglect.

  “More soldiers,” he whispered. “We’ll wait a minute. If they don’t leave, we’ll go the other way.”

  Nearby soldiers called out to one another and then, after some minutes, silence ensued.

  “All right,” Dixon said, “now remember, Klynn, if we get separated, get yourself to safety. Mara,” he continued, a question in his eyes, “if that happens, I’ve got your word to return immediately to . . . you know . . . Right?”

  She nodded.

  He peeked around the building’s edge, looked one way, then the other, then waved the women forward. “Remember, single file. Leave space between us. To the corner there,” he said with a nod. “We’re getting close now.”

  He stepped out. After some seconds passed, Mara, then Klynn, followed. The trio made their way to the end of the block without anyone molesting them. The women hid inside the framework of one deep doorway while Dixon hid within another. Again they repeated the pattern, and then again, as they neared sanctuary in fits and starts.

  Once again stalling in an alleyway, they listened for sounds of trouble. Hearing nothing, Dixon pointed to the next stop, then stepped out.

  Mara counted off the seconds. Just as she was about go, she heard someone cry out.

  “Hey you! You there! Hey, I’m talkin’ to you!”

  She peeked out. A soldier shouted at Dixon, who kept his head down, behaving as though he assumed the man called out for someone else.

  Mara looked toward Klynn, her eyes wide with fear.

  Klynn ran out of the alley. She rushed toward the soldier.

  What is she doing? She said she wanted to help. Had all of this just been a game on her part? Mara held her breath.

  “Sir! Sir!” the woman cried as she approached the soldier, dragging one leg.

  He pulled out his sword. The sound of steel rang in the air.

  “Oh, sir, I’ve found one! You must rush there. Quickly! Quickly! Before they leave!”

  His eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

  She halted. “Sir, you must go quickly, before they find refuge elsewhere. Hurry, sir, hurry! I’ll tell you where they are.”

  “What did you find?”

  “A Select infant, sir! You missed her. Qu
ickly!”

  “Where? Take me.”

  “Oh, but look at me!” She stepped forward, pointing out her faux crippled leg. “I would detain you, sir. I’m sorry. But please, please don’t let them get away.”

  “Where?”

  She pointed away from where Mara waited. “There, sir. You’ll find them that way. Go down a few blocks to a big red inn. I don’t remember the name of it. Then turn east and go until you find a wide-open space on your left. Go down three more houses from there, and you’ll find them. They’re probably leaving even now, sir. You must hurry!”

  Given that some city residents eagerly gave away the whereabouts of helpless infants that were, or at least were believed to be, Select, Klynn’s behavior was not entirely unprecedented.

  The soldier turned to Dixon. “It looks like today is your lucky day, but I wouldn’t count on it to remain so. Get to where it is you intend to go and do it quickly. I don’t want to find you wandering the streets when I return.”

  Dixon bobbed his head submissively.

  The soldier repeated to Klynn the instructions she’d given him.

  “That’s right, sir. Hurry!”

  He rushed away.

  Mara looked out from her hiding place. Dixon, then Klynn, made their way to the next stopping place. Moments later, she joined them.

  “Klynn!” she exclaimed. “How could you do that? Bring trouble to others?”

  “She didn’t,” Dixon said.

  “But—”

  “There are no houses in the direction she sent the soldier.”

  Mara’s mouth dropped open. “You mean you sent him on a wild goose chase?”

  “I did. And I expect we haven’t long before he figures it out and heads back this way.”

  “That was quick thinking, Klynn, thank you,” Dixon said. He looked around the corner, then turned back. “Lucky for us, sanctuary is just ahead. Follow me.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  The three approached the front door to the main building. Mara tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. She tried again. Still it did not move. She knocked. No one answered. She knocked again. Still no one answered. “You don’t suppose they’ve all gone, do you?”

  Dixon shrugged. “I can’t imagine. And I’ve never seen sanctuary locked. Not any sanctuary.”

  She put her ear to the door. “There’s someone in there. I can hear them.” She knocked again. “Hello! Hello! Is anyone there?”

  The door opened a crack. “Mara, is that you?”

  “Yes, Faith, it’s me and Dixon, and another visitor. Please, please let us in.”

  Faith opened the door. When they entered, she stood before them, her Oathtaker’s blade from days gone by, in her hand. She sheathed her weapon.

  “Oh Faith, you haven’t locked sanctuary!”

  “We have to keep an eye on anyone trying to enter.” Pain shone in the woman’s eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Mara asked.

  “Sure. Fine. I’m fine. Thank you for asking.” Faith stepped back. Her eyes narrowed. “Where are— Oh, gracious Good One! Don’t tell me that anything has happened to—”

  “No! No, all is well. Not to worry.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Footsteps approached.

  “Ted, it’s good to see you!”

  “Mara,” he nodded in greeting, “Dixon.” He patted his friend’s shoulder. “I heard some commotion. What happened? What are the two of you doing here?”

  “It’s a long story, Ted,” Dixon said, “but the crux of it is that we heard reports of something going on here in Polesk. Mara insisted we check it out.”

  “But the—”

  “Everyone is well and safe,” Mara interrupted.

  “How did you get here?”

  She grinned. “We’ll fill you in on everything, but you should know that we won’t be here long. We have to get back to Nina and . . . and the others.”

  It was clear by the look on Ted’s face that he was confused, concerned.

  Dixon clapped him on the shoulder. “Patience. We’ll fill you in.” He introduced Klynn to his friends. “How long have you been staying at sanctuary, Ted? We heard what happened.”

  The man dropped his head and shook it. “It has all been just horrible. We did what we could to save some, but in the end we didn’t succeed.”

  “Except for Hattie’s little one,” Faith said.

  “Yes, of course, Hattie’s little one,” he repeated. He turned to Dixon. “What’s the matter with us? Are you hungry? Can we get you anything? We’ve made sanctuary a sort of home away from home while the soldiers still roam the city.”

  “Thank you,” Mara said. “Actually, I could use something to eat. I hope it’s not too much trouble.”

  “Just this way,” Faith said.

  “How long have you got?” Ted asked Dixon as they followed the women.

  “That’s up to Mara, but I expect she’ll want to make this quick so we can get back. We met Klynn when we got into the city. She helped us to make our way here.”

  They entered a back room that traditionally served as a rest area for guest speakers. It sported a hearth, the space and tools necessary for cooking, and it had its own well-stocked larder.

  “Right in here is where we set up our temporary home,” Faith said. Several comfortable chairs nestled in one corner and a table and chairs occupied another. She held her hand out to Ted and her guests, signifying that they should stay there for a moment, then made her way toward a young woman who was busy preparing food and had a quiet word with her.

  “Say, Faith,” Ted called out.

  She turned to him.

  “What do you say we ask Erin to keep Klynn company while we get caught up with Dixon and Mara?”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She motioned for Klynn to join her and the young woman with whom she’d been speaking. Then she escorted the two out of the room.

  “She looks incredibly familiar,” Mara said.

  “Who?” Ted asked.

  “The woman Faith was talking to.”

  “I thought the same thing,” Dixon said.

  Ted laughed. “She must have one of those faces. Both Faith and I said the same thing of her.”

  “Who is she?” Mara asked as she sat down. The smell of a hearty lamb stew wafted its way toward her. Her stomach growled.

  The men sat to either side of her.

  “I know who she looks like!” she suddenly exclaimed. She looked at Ted, her eyes narrowed. “What did you say her name was?”

  “Erin.”

  “Oh, great Ehyeh! Is it possible?” She shook her head. “Where is she from?”

  “What are you talking about?” Dixon asked.

  “Where is she from, Ted?” Mara asked again.

  “Chiran.”

  “And you said her name is ‘Erin?’”

  “‘Erin,’ yes. Why?”

  “What? What are you thinking?” Dixon asked.

  “Ted! Dixon! Nina has a sister, Erin. That’s who she looks like. Like Nina!”

  Dixon sat straight up in his chair. “Right you are.”

  “Ted, is it possible?”

  “I don’t know. She escaped from the army that was with Lilith. If it hadn’t been for that young woman, we wouldn’t have known anything of Lilith’s plans. She found Hattie—oh, we’ll have to introduce Hattie to you—and told her of Lilith’s plans. We sent all the local Oathtakers out, trying to get the people to bring their infants here instead of taking them to Lilith’s gathering, but . . .” His voice dropped off to nothing.

  Mara and Dixon waited quietly for him.

  “I’ve never felt such a failure,” Ted finally whispered. “Here we are at sanctuary,” he waved his hand to designate his surroundings, “but we weren’t able to provide actual sanctuary to the people when they most needed it.”

  “Is that why the lights in the steeple are out?” Dixon asked.

  “It seems an appropriate sign of mourni
ng.”

  “You can’t blame yourself, Ted.”

  “I know. Still . . .”

  Faith entered the room and headed toward the bucket of stew hanging at the hearth.

  “Faith, what do you know about Erin?” Mara asked.

  “Oh, not to worry. I’ve not told her anything. I assumed the same was true of Klynn. With them busy now, we can speak freely. We have a lot to fill you in on.”

  “No, I mean, what do you know about where she’s from?”

  “Mara thinks Erin might be Nina’s sister,” Dixon said.

  “Oh! Is it possible, do you think?” Faith asked.

  “We’ll ask her when they return,” Ted said. “In the meantime, we should catch up.”

  They visited for a time, occasionally interrupted by someone inquiring about sanctuary matters. Mara and Dixon told their friends everything that had transpired to date and of the girls’ slowly growing group of supporters. In turn, Ted and Faith told all they knew about Lilith’s venture.

  Mara pushed away the now tepid cup of tea she’d been drinking. “I guess it’s time we got back to the inn. I’d just like to meet Erin first.”

  Faith stood and gathered some of the dishes from the table. “I’ll go get her now.”

  “How long do you plan to stay in the City of Light?” Ted asked.

  “No idea,” Mara said. “I’m just following what I think is the Good One’s lead.”

  “And you’ve had no contact with Lucy since you left here?”

  “Just once to let her know we were stopping in the city,” Dixon responded.

  “I’m thinking,” Mara said, “that Lucy can get the word out about Lilith and save lives.”

  “It certainly would be worth a try,” Ted said. “Perhaps she’ll have better luck than we did.” Once again, he dropped his head and shook it.

  Mara touched his arm, stroking it gently, commiserating with him.

  Footsteps click-clacked on the floor.

  Mara stood as Faith entered, her hair in its typical flurry. Klynn and Erin followed her.

  Mara looked closely at the young woman, then smiled.

  Erin fidgeted uncomfortably. “Ma’am,” she said softly.

  “Erin, I’ve—that is we’ve—all commented on how very familiar you look. When I heard your name, I wondered . . . have you any sisters?”