King's Artesan: Artesans of Albia trilogy (Artesans Series Book 3)

by Cas Peace

  Striding down the street with the bewildered villagers and some of his men at his back, Parren was intent on searching for his quarry. Then one of his men shouted, pointing at a huge demon walking brazenly through the rubble. Parren waved them on and they ran forward to intercept the giant. The demon made ready to defend himself, unsure of their intentions.

  That was enough for Parren. He recognized the man as one of Robin’s party and remembered that the giant was mute. Here was his chance to be seen taking a prisoner, one he could claim was an invader, and he fully intended to round up any surviving demons and put them to the sword in front of the villagers. With Robin dead and Baily denounced as being responsible for botching the plan in the first place, Parren would be hailed as Hyecombe’s savior. He had already ensured, by the simple expedient of being first into the inn, that the villagers saw him as such.

  He congratulated himself on having done the right thing in forcing Robin to take the brunt of the fighting while he, Parren, convinced the villagers that he was in sole command of those responsible for ending the siege. Now was his chance to cement that belief.

  He called orders to his men as they advanced on the giant.

  *****

  Robin lay half-covered by fallen debris and a dead body. He felt stiff and bruised but could feel all his limbs and didn’t think he had any broken bones. The blast had stunned him, but he was largely unhurt. He had realized what was happening in the vicinity of the tunnel and had sensed the struggle for control going on within it. Deciding it might be prudent to shield, he had protected himself just in time, so fortunately his mind was undamaged. But he had been close to the site of the blast and was knocked off his feet by its force, as was everyone else around him. He thought he had seen Ky-shan and some of the seamen fleeing from the tunnel mouth before the whole thing shattered, but it had happened so fast. He didn’t know if they had escaped alive.

  Opening gritty eyes, Robin gazed at the rubble all around him. There was a dead man pinning his legs, and the Andaryan was a horrific sight. Blood had streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose, and his face was contorted in a frozen scream. Repulsed, Robin sat up and heaved the body from him. A startled curse sounded close by and he stared up, straight into the furious eyes of Captain Parren.

  Struggling to his feet, Robin was suddenly aware of Almid behind him, sword at the ready. His immediate thought was that Almid was protecting him, but Robin soon saw that the giant was more concerned for his own safety. He stared in astonishment at the obvious animosity between Parren, his men, and Almid, unable to believe that even the vicious Parren would attack an ally. Then he registered Parren’s fresh appearance and realized that the man had slyly avoided the worst of the fighting. This made him angry.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Parren?” he demanded, dust clogging his throat and making him cough. “Back off, this man’s a friend!”

  “So you say,” snarled Parren. “I say he’s a demon, one of the invaders. The good people of this village want rid of these outlanders and I intend to oblige them. Stand aside.”

  Robin glared at Parren and at the swordsmen with him, one or two of whom looked confused. No one could fail to recognize Almid, even if they couldn’t tell the twins apart. They had all seen them with Robin before the attack and knew them to be allies. Yet Parren’s authority couldn’t be denied and his men were bound to obey him. The villagers had no idea that some of the demons had come here to help them—Robin would have wagered a year’s pay on Parren concealing that fact—and were urging the swordsmen on, baying noisily for Almid’s blood.

  Drawing his sword, Robin went to stand beside Almid. He faced Parren. “Back off,” he commanded, his voice stronger. “I’m telling you, this man is on our side and we’ll need his strength if we’re going to sort this mess out. We should be tending to our people, Parren, not fighting our friends.”

  Parren spat in the dirt. “Your friends, Tamsen. You seem to have defected to the other side. What are you doing in the company of demons, anyway? Look what they’ve done to this place!”

  Robin knew what Parren was trying to do. He and Almid were alone against Parren’s trained swordsmen and a crowd of frightened villagers. This could get ugly. Casting about for recognizable faces, he suddenly caught sight of Paulus emerging from the tavern. The businessman had probably been counting the cost of the damage to his livelihood, and his expression said he didn’t like what he saw. But he came up the street at Robin’s call, looking bemused by the standoff.

  “Captain Tamsen,” he exclaimed when he finally recognized Robin. “I had no idea you were here. What’s going on?”

  The young man breathed a sigh of relief. As both Elder and tavern-keeper, Paulus was well respected by the villagers and Robin knew they would listen to him. At his very appearance their raucous shouts died down.

  “Paulus, thank the gods! Listen, I want you to tell everyone that not all of the Andaryans here are invaders. Some of them came here with me to help relieve you. You wouldn’t want to see them mistaken for enemies and killed, would you?”

  Paulus frowned at Parren and Almid before looking back at Robin. “No, of course not. But how will we know which are which?”

  “Almid here can identify them. He might not be able to talk, but you can trust him. I don’t have time for this. I have to find Cal. I need to know what happened to the rest of the men who came here with me, and I need to know what became of the invaders’ leader. Would you and some of the villagers help Almid search for survivors?”

  Receiving Paulus’s dubious nod, Robin turned to the giant. “Almid, is Cal alright?”

  The giant’s eyes were still fixed on Parren’s dangerously flushed face, but he nodded, giving Robin a brief account of what had occurred in Taran’s house. Robin didn’t hear Almid as clearly as Sullyan could, but he got the gist of it. Paulus, reassured by Robin’s manner, began calming the villagers, telling them not to fear Almid or any demons he indicated were friends.

  Parren, clearly realizing his moment had passed, tossed a venomous look at Robin. “This isn’t over, Tamsen. You put your own desires before the safety of the villagers, and I intend to see that the General hears of it. You left me to ensure their well-being and we could all have been killed. Blaine won’t be too happy when he hears of your conduct.”

  Robin’s mouth dropped open. The threat of denouncement didn’t bother him—Blaine knew exactly what he had come here for. But the villagers just might back Parren, as he had undoubtedly helped them escape their jailors and events could easily be twisted with a few well-chosen words. However, Robin had other things on his mind right now. More men were gaining their feet, friend and foe alike, and he could hear the sounds of renewed fighting coming from the other street.

  “Drop it, Parren,” he snapped. “Now is not the time. Our men need help and direction. We need to know where Baily is, and I must find Cal. I suggest you gather your men and do your job.”

  Leaving Almid with Paulus, Robin let Parren deal with the recovering people in the main street. He made for Taran’s house, where he found Kester awaiting him, his huge sword in his beefy hands. Leaving the giant by the door, Robin found Cal still blissfully unconscious on the bed, looking as pale as someone with such dark skin could. Checking him over, Robin was relieved to find no damage other than the physical. He re-emerged from the house to see Baily and about thirty of his command desperately fighting the remnants of the demon forces farther up the street. Calling Kester, he rushed to help.

  Although the Andaryans were fighting, they were thoroughly demoralized, as much by the desertion of their lord and commander as by the effects of the explosion. Their hearts were not in their resistance and they were flagging. Baily’s men, still smarting from having the tables of ambush turned upon them earlier, were using their anger to good effect. Their foes were all but subdued by the time Robin and Kester added their swords.

  Seeing this, Baily roared for the Andaryans to surrender their arms. With one or two e
xceptions, they did so, morosely allowing themselves to be herded into an outbuilding at the far end of the street. It had but two windows and one door, and was easily guarded by half a dozen men. A panting but triumphant Baily accepted Robin’s praise before the two captains ran back to the main street.

  The fighting here was sporadic. Most of the demons not already put to the sword had been herded into buildings. Only a few individuals were left to resist. As Robin and Baily watched, the last of these surrendered and half a dozen Manor swordsmen manhandled them into temporary prisons. It was then that Robin realized there was no sign of Parren or the bulk of his men. He frowned.

  Kester gripped his arm with crushing force and spun him about, pointing to the far end of the village. Almid was already sprinting for the tight knot of men just visible in the distance. They were being harried by Parren’s forces, pushed slowly but inexorably toward the treacherous marshy ground around the pond. Robin saw Ky-shan’s unmistakable form, his few remaining men around him, struggling to fend off a furious Parren. Cursing, Robin and Kester rushed to their aid.

  “Parren!” roared Robin. “Stand off! He’s a friend.”

  Parren ignored him, clearly in no mood to relent now that he had a demon in his sights. His bloodlust was up, and as far as he was concerned Ky-shan was a legitimate target.

  The pirates were giving ground, totally outnumbered by Parren’s men, only a few of which had heard Robin’s call and backed off. Still yelling, Robin fought his way through to Parren and barged heavily into him, knocking him off-balance.

  “Put up, put up!” he roared. But Parren, enraged by the interference, bellowed at his men to carry on. Unsure who to obey, some continued fighting. Now, however, Kester and Almid had rejoined Ky-shan and their vast strength forced a stand-off.

  Regaining his balance, Parren whipped round to face Robin. His sword wove in the air menacingly. The two forces stood panting and watching warily, neither side entirely sure what would happen next. Robin and Parren glared at each other, both breathing heavily. Parren’s eyes were hooded and vicious, Robin’s concerned and wary. He was getting tired of this, and desperately needed to know what had happened to Sonten, Heron, and Vanyr.

  He spoke quietly, trying to calm the situation. “Leave it, Parren. I told you, now is not the time.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Parren’s voice was dangerously low. “Maybe now is exactly the time. What better opportunity to be rid of a traitor?”

  “What are you talking about?” demanded Robin.

  Baily pushed his way through the press of men and came to stand at Robin’s side. “Come on, Parren, Tamsen’s no traitor. You’ve no grounds for an accusation like that.”

  “Oh, haven’t I?” The dark line of Parren’s scar stood out starkly against his sallow skin. His sword ceased its weaving. “Who was it brought more demons here? Who is obviously friendly with our enemies? Who is defending them, even fighting alongside them? Look at him, Baily! He’s just itching to be gone, to follow his slit-eyed friends! Are those the actions of a loyal Albian? I don’t think so!” He aimed his sword tip at Robin’s breast.

  To Robin’s amazement—and relief—Baily brought his own weapon up, knocking Parren’s aside. “Enough!” he barked.

  Parren stared at him, and Robin smiled faintly. It took a lot to rile Baily.

  “I won’t listen to your spiteful defamations, Parren,” he said. “You’re being ridiculous. Blaine has no reservations about Tamsen’s loyalty, and neither do I.” Turning to Robin, he said, “Go and do what you have to, Rob. Parren and I will clear up here and report back to the General. And don’t worry, I’ll see the correct story gets told. If needs be, your friend Paulus will back me up.”

  “Thanks, Baily, I appreciate it.” Robin eyed the silent but furious Parren as he would a poisonous toad. Then he turned to the stocky pirate. “Ky-shan, what can you tell me about Sonten and Vanyr?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Robin and the pirates walked slowly back to Taran’s cottage to the sound of a vicious row erupting behind them. Ignoring Baily and Parren, Ky-shan told Robin what he had seen inside the tunnel and how he and most of his men had managed to flee the structure before it imploded. Only three seamen had failed to emerge, and those who had escaped were immediately swept off their feet by the blast. Thanks to Vanyr’s warning they had all covered their ears, saving them from permanent damage. Even so, some were still partially deaf and they all had splitting headaches. Robin could sympathize—his own head was throbbing like a drum.

  “So Vanyr, Sonten, and Heron were all caught inside the tunnel?” he asked. “With the Staff?” Ky-shan nodded, and Robin’s heart quailed. “Oh, gods. Let me see if I can sense Vanyr, though I don’t suppose he could have survived.”

  On entering the cottage, Robin dropped wearily into a dust-covered chair. He calmed his aching mind, sorting Vanyr’s psyche pattern from the others he knew and longed to contact. His senses ranged through the Veils, easily following the disruption caused by the imploding tunnel. Its echoes were everywhere, and he knew that every realm would have felt the aftershock, although none as intensely as Albia and Andaryon.

  Finding the tunnel’s intended exit, he cast about for signs of life. There were no traces of Sonten or Heron in the substrate, and Robin hadn’t expected to find any, but neither could he detect Vanyr. He reluctantly concluded they had all perished inside the tunnel, as Ky-shan had indicated. Withdrawing, he sat with his splitting head in his hands, wondering how on earth he was going to tell Sullyan the precious Staff was lost.

  He began to tremble as tears pricked his sore eyes. He was going to lose her after all. He couldn’t believe they had come this far, gone through so much, only to be defeated like this. If only he hadn’t underestimated Sonten so badly. If only he had arrived sooner. If only he had been nearer to Sonten when the tunnel had opened. He had never even considered the possibility that Sonten might force Heron to open a trans-Veil structure right in the middle of the village. It was suicidal madness, and Heron should have known better. But Robin had completely failed to understand the depths of Sonten’s ruthlessness, and now Sullyan would pay the price. He didn’t know how he would bear it.

  The pirates moved around the little cottage, throwing out more rubble and clearing the fireplace. One of them gathered splintered wood and lit a fire. It was full daylight now, but it was still early and the sky was cloudy, promising rain. The cheerful blaze dispelled some of the gloom and lamps were lit so that the little house soon resembled the cozy home it had once been. A couple of the pirates went to round up their scattered horses, bringing the nervous animals to the front of the house, including Robin’s Torka. From their supplies, they produced the inevitable bottles of brine rum and some food. Robin accepted what he was offered, although his head was still pounding and depression was making him nauseous.

  Ky-shan put a hand on his shoulder. “Why don’t you get some rest, lad?” He sounded so much like Bull that Robin’s vision blurred. “We’ll watch here. You grab a bit of sleep. We’ll wake you if anything happens or your friend rouses. Though, by the looks of him, he needs a week of solid sleep.”

  Robin could think of no good reason to refuse. It was still too early to contact either Blaine or Bull, and he would feel better after a couple of hours sleep. Thanking Ky-shan for his thoughtfulness—and cautioning him unnecessarily to be wary of Parren—Robin went into Taran’s room, rolled himself in a blanket, and lay down on the floor by Cal’s bed. He fell instantly asleep.

  *****

  Sullyan, Rienne, Bull, and Taran stayed together, waiting for dawn and willing their headaches away. Rienne lay curled in Taran’s arms on the bed for comfort. Servants brought them fresh fellan and food, but only the fellan was consumed. Sullyan remained silent and withdrawn, not knowing what to do. She was unable to cross the Veils to see for herself what had happened, and Taran also was unfit to travel. Bull could have gone, but she was unwilling to send him alone, and her other allies, Ky-shan and Vanyr,
were with Robin and probably caught up in the catastrophe. Jay’el was totally untrained, although she toyed with the idea of sending him and Ki-en with Bull to stand for the big man if he needed them. But the near-miss of Bull’s heart seizure made her doubly protective of him and she was reluctant to part with him, although she knew he would go if she asked him. She was helpless, and hated it.

  Dawn was just breaking over the inner courtyard gardens when she made up her mind to send Bull. She knew Robin and Cal were in trouble and could bear it no longer. She would ask Bull to cross the Veils and contact General Blaine as soon as possible to see if he had any details. She was drawing breath to speak when the faintest touch on her mind made her freeze. Her gaze was an enormous black void as she used all her strength to hear the frail and tenuous call.

  Brynne.

  There it was again, although she had to strain to hear it. Its tone was suffused with pain and suffering, as if the caller was near to death. She couldn’t tell who it was. Following the faint trace in the substrate, she tried to strengthen the mind of whoever was so desperate to reach her.

  Brynne.

  It came a third time, weaker now. But she was ready for it and held firmly to the fading psyche as it slipped, supporting it steadily.

  Hold on, she urged. Do not try to call again. I have heard you. Just stay conscious if you can. Rest, be easy. I am coming.

  As she leaped from her chair, the sudden movement startled the others. Bull rose with her and she briefly considered ordering him to stay, but then thought better of it. Glancing at Rienne and Taran, she said, “You two stay here. Bull and I are going out. We will be in touch when we can. Rienne, will you do what you can to help Anjer and Ephan? They both need attention. If you see Pharikian, tell him we will return as soon as we may, but I do not know how long this will take.”

  “Why, what is it?” demanded Rienne, worry for Cal clear in her tone.