Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  He said nothing.

  Dixon grasped him around the neck and pulled one of his arms behind his back. He twisted it up, up, up. “Are there more?” he asked between clenched teeth.

  “Ahhhh! No!”

  “Wrong answer.” Dixon increased the tension.

  Samuel, holding a sword, and Jules, with a dagger, ran up behind Mara.

  The soldier groaned in pain. “I mean, yes. Yes!”

  Dixon lessened the pressure for a moment. “Where?”

  He shook his head.

  “Where?” Dixon pulled his captive’s arm up even tighter.

  “Ahhhh!” the man cried. He tilted his head in the direction in which Mara and Dixon had seen the first of the scouts disappear in the trees.

  “How many?” Mara asked.

  “One. One!”

  “You sure about that?” Dixon added more pressure.

  “Yes!”

  Dixon let up for a moment. The soldier gasped.

  “Is he coming this way?” Mara asked.

  The man clenched his jaw tight.

  “You heard the lady,” Dixon said. “Do I need to—”

  “No! No, don’t! There’s only one more. Only one! He planned to meet us here soon, near the cabin.” He gasped for breath.

  Mara turned to Samuel and Jules and pointed toward the tree cover ahead. “We saw another one up there. Can you—”

  “Consider it done,” Samuel said between clenched teeth.

  She turned her attention back. “What were you all doing out here?”

  “We’re just scouting out the area in advance—for our camp.”

  “Camp with Lilith?”

  His eyes flashed upward. He said nothing, but his face revealed everything: they were part of Lilith’s army.

  “Why did Lilith send you this way?” Dixon asked as he shoved him to the ground.

  “I can’t say.”

  “What do you mean you ‘can’t say?’” Mara asked.

  “Just kill me,” he said between sobs. “Just kill me so that I don’t have to die that horrible death.”

  Mara squinted in thought. She remembered how Udaye died when Basha and Therese questioned him. “You mean you don’t want to burn up?”

  “Just kill me,” he repeated as his eyes settled on Spira, still in her hand.

  Samuel and Jules came back into view.

  “Done,” Samuel said. “Done and good riddance.”

  She turned back toward the soldier and crouched down near him. “Ask me one more time,” she taunted.

  “Just kill me.”

  “For all the lives you’ve taken, for all the misery you’ve sown, I should be happy,” she said as she leaned in closer, “to oblige.” She spat on the ground as though ridding herself of a terrible taste. “But I don’t feel anything about you or for you, but disgust.”

  She stood and turned away. She’d not taken more than two steps when Samuel cried, “Mara, look out!”

  As she spun on her heel, the soldier grabbed her hand—the hand in which she held Spira. He latched hold just above her wrist. He pulled her closer, growling.

  Her eyes locked on his. She tried to break free, but he was too strong.

  Then his eyes bulged. He choked. His grasp loosened.

  She drew back as he crumbled to the ground. His body shuddered, then went still. A sword stuck out from his back.

  Mara looked up. There stood Samuel. “Oh, Samuel! Oh!” she exclaimed, a hand at her throat.

  He pulled his sword free, wiped its blade in the snow, then nodded at her.

  She feared she might collapse.

  “I’m so sorry, Mara! You were in the way, so I couldn’t use my blade,” Dixon said.

  She shook her head.

  “I’m sorry your outing had to come to such a quick and difficult ending, but we’d best go.”

  She dropped her head in her free hand.

  “Samuel, Jules,” Dixon said, “ride out ahead while we pack things as quickly as possible. Scout the area, then get back here so we can be on our way.”

  The young men acknowledged their orders, then ran off.

  Dixon approached Mara. He wrapped his arms around her. She still shook. “It’s all right,” he said. “Everything is all right.”

  “Oh, Dixon! I almost— He— If it weren’t— If Samuel— If he’d turned my blade against me—”

  “I know, I know,” he said, trying to comfort her. When she calmed down some, he released her, took her by the hand, and then turned toward the cabin.

  She walked quietly for a moment, then stopped in her tracks. She looked up. Tears welled in her eyes. “Dixon, sometimes it’s all so overwhelming. Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing the right things.”

  “You are.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “You do what you do because you love those girls. You love life and the one who gave it. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”

  “But he could have—”

  “Shhh. Shhh. Don’t say it. I can’t bear to think harm could come to you. You’ll be even more careful next time, I’m sure.”

  She reached into her pocket and extracted a handful of crystals, sorted through them to find one of Ezra’s pink-orange ones, then pocketed the remainder. She turned back toward the dead soldiers and tossed it. A moment later, they went up in a flash.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  The day finally came. Mara could justify waiting no longer. It was time to send part of her group to Lucy’s.

  All were in a bustle. Backpacks and saddlebags sat near the door, stuffed nearly to overflowing with extra clothing, foodstuffs, candles, tools, herbal remedies, books, and weapons.

  “When do you expect to follow us?” Adele stood at Mara’s side, tears in her eyes, Reigna in her arms.

  Mara leaned over the table, where sat Therese, Basha, Jules, and Dixon, all reviewing a map. She motioned to Adele to be patient. The compact, its existence and purpose long since disclosed to the others, sat open as the group discussed their plans with Lucy.

  “Just there. Is that the place?” Mara asked, tapping on the map.

  “That’s it,” Lucy said. “And by way of reminder, my people report finding men they assume are from Lilith’s group in various places throughout Oosa. It seems they scout areas out well in advance of her moving her camp.”

  “Yes, Ezra’s people are reporting the same thing.” Mara looked at Basha, then Jules. “You’ll have to be on high alert at all times,” she cautioned. “All right, has everyone got the plan?”

  “Got it,” Jules said.

  They’d mapped out every detail, right down to the camping places and inns that Ezra assured them would be safe to use. If necessary they could send messages back through the innkeeper’s network.

  “Thank you, Lucy. We’ll be in touch soon,” Mara said.

  “Take care.”

  She closed the compact. As she pocketed it, she turned to Adele. Fear and uncertainty clouded the young woman’s eyes. “It’ll be all right. I need you to do this. We shouldn’t be more than a month or so behind you. If we hear word of Lilith approaching the city before that, we’ll leave even sooner.”

  Adele wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. She grasped Reigna’s tiny hand. The child’s eyes seemed to acknowledge that something was amiss with one of her caretakers.

  “I’ll take the map,” Jules said.

  “Don’t make any markings on it,” Dixon cautioned. “We wouldn’t want anyone to know where you were headed.”

  Nina sat down. “It seems like someone is always coming and going,” she said as she glanced Jules’s way.

  “It can’t be helped, Nina.” Mara rolled up the map. “I want to get the scepter to safekeeping. I probably should have sent the group off sooner.” She handed the scroll to Jules whose gaze rested on Nina.

  His chair scraped against the floor as he pushed it back. “We can still get an early start—and we’ll need to if we’re to make it to Aventown before nightfall.�
� He tucked the map under his arm. “I checked at the stables earlier. Our horses are saddled.”

  Adele groaned. Moody for days now, she’d intercepted Mara at every turn, each time with yet another argument for why she should stay behind. She’d even gone so far as to ask Mara to check with the oracle about whether to send her with the others, but the Oathtaker thought the idea preposterous. Why would the oracle bother over such a detail?

  Bundled up in shawls and capes, they all made their way to the stables.

  Dixon, late for an appointment with Ezra, clasped Jules’s forearm, urged him to keep everyone safe, then returned to the inn.

  Mara and Nina each held one of the twins as the travelers mounted. Mara grasped Eden’s arm and raised it in a mock wave. Nina grinned, then followed suit, waving Reigna’s hand at those departing.

  As the riders left the courtyard, a man in black, on a large rust gelding, rushed toward the inn. He nearly collided with Adele. Mara winced at the encounter, glanced briefly at the newcomer, then turned her attention back to her departing friends.

  Adele stretched so far back in her saddle, that for a minute it looked like she was riding backward. She appeared troubled.

  “Poor Adele,” Mara said as she, Nina, and Samuel, headed back to the inn.

  Just then, the man in black nearly ran into them.

  “Excuse me,” Mara said as he jostled past.

  He glanced at her briefly, then went inside.

  She shook her head. Then, as she entered, Ezra and Dixon turned her way.

  “Dixon!” the newcomer cried. “Dixon, it is you!”

  Dixon’s face broke into a big smile. His strong good looks caught Mara by surprise, as they often did. She tried to ignore his presence, but sometimes it was very difficult. This it seemed, was one of those times. She drank in the sight of him.

  “Edmond! What are you doing here?” Dixon embraced his friend, clapping him on the back.

  So this was Dixon’s dear friend, Edmond. Mara was startled.

  “Dixon!” Edmond exclaimed again. “I am so glad to see you. What are you doing here? How did you get here? I thought—”

  “Oh, so many questions!” Dixon grasped his friend’s arm and turned him toward Mara. “Here, I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

  “I believe we’ve already met,” she said, not intending to hide her vexation.

  Dixon looked puzzled. He turned back to his friend. “Edmond, I’d like to introduce you to Mara . . . and this is Nina,” he continued, gesturing her way, “and Samuel,” he added. “Everyone, this is my dear friend, Edmond. Edmond Chantry.”

  The newcomer looked down, shuffled his feet, then glanced back up. “Excuse me, ma’am. Seems we got off to a bad start.”

  Mara lifted her chin, and widened her eyes.

  “Please forgive me.”

  She watched him closely. His mannerisms did not appear contrived, but rather, to display genuine repentance.

  “You too?” Dixon clapped Edmond’s back. “Well, my friend, you’re in good company. I guess Mara has that effect.”

  “The only effect she has on me, is to shame me,” Edmond said, tipping his head. “Had I known you were a friend of Dixon’s—”

  “You would have been polite? Whereas, if I was just some . . . unknown, it was acceptable for you to be rude and pushy?”

  Dixon laughed. “See what I mean? Well, if it helps any, we had a similar beginning.”

  She looked at him, her eyes narrowed.

  “Ah, come on, Mara, he’s sorry. Can’t you see that?” Dixon reached for Eden. Clearly, the infant was delighted when he took her into his arms. She touched his face and babbled at him.

  “Truly, Mara, I beg your forgiveness.”

  She glanced at Dixon again. When he winked at her, she grinned. “Apology accepted.” She shook Edmond’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “How long will you be here?” Dixon asked.

  “Well now, I don’t know. I was just going to be passing through. I’m late for a meeting which accounts for my . . . well, my bad manners,” Edmond said, glancing at Mara with a smile. “But after my business concludes, I’ll know more. It would be great to have some time to catch up with you though, Dixon. I haven’t seen you since—”

  “I left the palace, yes.”

  “However did you—”

  “Oh, later.” Dixon turned to Mara. “You know, Edmond could have information about Lilith.”

  “Lilith? Yes, I’ve heard the occasional rumor.”

  “Have you seen her?”

  “No, not since she left the palace and that was . . . months ago now.”

  “Well, have you got time after your meeting? This evening perhaps?”

  “I’m free this evening.”

  “Mara?” Dixon asked.

  “I just plan to study today and to help Nina. Without Adele, she’ll need more help with the girls.”

  “Adele?” Edmond asked.

  “You know Adele,” Dixon said. “Lilith’s former maid.”

  “Oh, sure. She’s the one Rowena was so fond of, wasn’t she? I thought the name sounded familiar.” Edmond looked around. “She’s here? However did you manage that?”

  “No,” Mara said, “she was here helping us, but she’s gone now. That’s what I was saying about Nina needing more help with the girls.”

  He cocked his head as he looked at the infants. “Twins?”

  “Oh, Edmond, my friend,” Dixon said, “you will never believe!”

  “Since Edmond is running late for his meeting, what do you say we just plan for dinner this evening?” Mara asked.

  Edmond smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Great,” Dixon said. He handed Eden off, then Samuel and Nina took the infants back to the group’s quarters.

  “I’ll get checked in quickly and rush off to my meeting. Then I’ll see you both here at . . . what time?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Just let someone know at the desk when you arrive and they’ll get word to us,” Dixon said.

  “Perfect.” Edmond waved and walked away.

  Dixon turned to Mara. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

  “Say no more.”

  He smiled and started off.

  She watched him. She never tired of his strong, certain presence. While she had transferred magic powers to the others, it was Dixon more than anyone, who had transferred confidence to her. He questioned her regularly, challenged her unapologetically, tested her and her limits without warning, but he also supported and trusted her decisions completely and wholeheartedly.

  Great Ehyeh, how could this have happened?

  Mara leaned back as the barmaid removed the dishes from their table. As usual, Celestine was dressed in a wholly pristine manner, yet every man in the pub seemed aware of her presence—Edmond not the least among them.

  Having watched the woman for weeks, Mara had seen men make advances at her, fights break out over her, and contests declared for the rights to her favors. She recalled asking Celestine some days back whether it bothered her.

  The barmaid had laughed. “See there,” she said to Ezra, “I must be due a raise.” She walked away.

  Mara looked to Ezra, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand.”

  The innkeeper chuckled. “Well you see, Mara, it’s like this. A man who’s busy watching a woman is not paying attention to business. For someone in the spy business like me, it helps to have the right women in place.” He looked over the room. “Take Nancy there,” he motioned her way. “She’s a buxom young woman. Pretty, but not the same kind of—exotic beauty—Celestine is. She’s got a great smile and a vivacious personality and she uses other . . . shall we say . . . tricks of the trade.”

  “You mean that low blouse she wears? She looks like she’ll spill out of it.”

  “Exactly!” He laughed and slapped his knee. “Some men want to see the flesh. Oth
ers just want to imagine it. Together those two do more around here to move information than any of my spies. And they’re paid well for it.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “You think so?” He leaned closer as though preparing to tell her a secret. “Listen, Mara, I know my business and I know men. If you needed information and you thought placing the right beauties in a man’s sight would help you, are you telling me that you wouldn’t do just that?”

  “Well—”

  “You would. And what’s more, you should. Just like you should be certain that those men upon whom you rely are well trained and disciplined, constantly aware of their own weaknesses and consistently fending them off.

  “Men may be physically stronger than women—as a rule anyway—but they also have a . . . weakness that more than levels the playing field. The greatest losses I’ve witnessed in my time have not been losses due to a man’s lack of physical strength or to bad tactical maneuvers. They’ve been brought about through the likes of women those men could not, or at least did not, ignore.

  “The truth is, I employ many men, but if I ever caught one watching the women around him in a—well, you know in what way—while on duty, that would be the end of his engagement with me.

  “You know, the Guild puts those who seek to be Oathtakers through enormous rigors to address the issue. Are you offended by the fact that they acknowledge such a . . . propensity, for lack of a better word, before a man can earn his credentials?”

  “So, Nancy and Celestine are tools.”

  “If you like. But I don’t ask them to do anything other than to be who and what they are. I would never attempt to sell their favors. Ever. I wouldn’t have it. I respect them and rely upon them. I keep guards on site at all times, as you’ve seen. I do it to protect them. They are never in danger.

  “I’m not sure I could say that I’d die for them. I understand the significance of such an oath. But I can say unreservedly that I’d kill for them, which, believe it or not, can be even more difficult. What’s more, I have.” He shuffled in his seat. “Why, they live right here on the premises so they don’t have to leave here in the dead of night when they would be alone and vulnerable.”