Enticed by a bit of grain, the mare followed Darin through the narrow doorway into the secluded alcove of the tower. Despite all the noise outside, the alcove was eerily quiet. Here, the smell of the salty ocean helped dispel the stench of the bodies, and in the room sweet grain was a welcome scent.
Darin’s thoughts spun from the bodies she’d seen to Telvin, then to Aysha, and finally to the group of townsfolk she’d met at the streambed. She wondered how to make sense of it all, let alone how to place herself in this mess and what she’d tell Telvin. As a forecaster, he would quickly sense any lie.
“You, my friend, are the last person I expected to meet today,” Telvin said as he entered the alcove. He strode up to her and was soon only a half a foot away. Darin took a deep breath, filling her nose with his scent. He bore no ill will, of that she was sure. But desire…she hadn’t expected that. His features had sharpened with age. Gone was the roundness of his cheeks. His jawbone was a strong line easily defined under the closely cropped beard. Although his face had thinned, his body had filled out with muscle everywhere else and Darin realized the longing she’d felt for him years ago hadn’t been without reason. He was still as striking as she’d remembered.
Telvin continued, “And dressed as a man? In a soldier’s uniform? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that your hound senses brought you back to me. I’ve met many scenters but none with half your talent…I never thought Alekander would let you out of his grip.”
“He didn’t do so willingly,” Darin admitted. Telvin’s eyes held hers for a long moment, and Darin finally said, “To say I’ve missed you is…”
“A far cry from the truth,” Telvin finished. “But so much has changed, hasn’t it?”
Darin nodded, thinking immediately of Aysha.
“I can’t tell you the things I’ve seen, the things I’ve done, since we were last together.” Telvin shook his head.
“I won’t ask,” Darin said gently.
“Today I sensed only blood. I’m off my mark, I guess. Unless you’re here to kill me.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I crossed paths with your Alekander only yesterday.”
“That isn’t possible. I saw him cross the Barrier heading north only a few weeks…” Darin struggled to remember how many weeks had passed and realized it had been well over a month since the day he’d crossed the Barrier. Enough time… Her stomach contracted and she choked down the taste of bile. How could she possibly have come directly into Alekander’s path yet again?
Telvin steadied her. He guided her over to a sack of grain and half pushed, half guided her to sit down. Darin looked up at him, shaking her head. “I’ve spent the last several months hunting Alekander. My only reason for living has been to see him dead. Why is he here now?”
“I’m happy to hear that you still hate him as much as I do.” Telvin smiled. “And that you’re not here hunting me does some good as well. Though if anyone was sent to murder me, I’d prefer it be you to many others I can think of…
“Alekander brought soldiers from Trilout. We needed more men. He trades in more than sensers these days. Soldier-slaves or mercenaries, as they prefer.” He laughed cynically. “What men but Northerners will kill for nothing but a day’s pay and a hot meal? The officers teach the new arrivals to kill first and steal second. We’re an awful lot, Darin.”
“Why do you keep such company?”
“You ask me that? How long were you in Alekander’s caravan?”
Darin knew he meant it only as an argument for his case, but his words stung. “Is Alekander still here in Caratia?”
“I don’t keep my eye on him. He’s no longer the enemy he once was, though I’ll never call him a friend. He’s useful, in his way, and since I work for the king, I have to tolerate him. King Bairndt considers him indispensable. In fact, he’s considering making him a general.”
At the sound of voices, Telvin went quiet. He went over to the narrow doorway and peered outside. After a moment, he came back and took a seat on a sack of grain next to Darin. “They’re bringing in more wounded. I can’t stay long. Someone will notice I’m missing.”
“I can’t meet Alekander here. Not now.” She thought of Aysha’s parting words. Had Aysha somehow sensed that she wouldn’t return?
“We met with him just outside of Eldering and picked up our new string of recruits. If he followed his usual routine, he’s likely sailing back up to Crag. But he does enjoy a good massacre. He may have decided to stay, hearing our odds of winning against the poor idiots who came out to die today.”
Darin hoped that Telvin was right with his first guess and that Alekander was in the middle of the ocean. But what if he had stayed? The possibility that he was in Caratia paralyzed her. “You can’t tell him that you’ve seen me here.”
“I thought you said that you were hunting him. Is it the other way around? Who’s the hound and who’s the rabbit?”
“It won’t matter in the end.”
“With Alekander, I suppose it never matters, does it? What have you done then?”
“Stole his horse. Not this one,” Darin gestured to the mare still crunching on grain. “This one I took from one of your soldiers along with the uniform…Alekander had me captive for months after the baby I carried was stillborn. His child. He blames the death on me.”
Telvin cocked his head. “But you never liked Alekander. I would have sworn you’d rather have had him on a spear than take him to bed.”
“I didn’t. Not willingly.”
Telvin was silent for a moment. “You should have cut his neck instead of run from him.”
“If I’d had the chance…”
“I’m a lousy forecaster, you know? Not once have I been able to see his death in the clouds. It’s a wonder no one has had Alekander’s head on a platter yet for all the horrors he’s had his part in. He’s always involved when there’s blood to spill.”
“You said you were the king’s counselor. If Alekander becomes a general…you’ll advise him.”
“It is one way to control your enemy, isn’t it?”
“How’d you get posted with Bairndt?”
“Alekander brought me here as a prize gift. The king was in want of a forecaster. Bairndt’s convinced that I can forecast anything, but all I sense with any accuracy these days are storms.” He paused. “You killed the soldier that wore that uniform?”
Darin nodded.
“In a castle…Heffen, was it? You stabbed him in the back?”
“You sensed all that but say you only have a knack for storms…What other secrets do you keep?”
“I didn’t need to sense that. Someone stitched up that uniform on the back, down by your lower left side.” He chuckled. “What would you give to kill Alekander?”
“My life.”
Telv’s lips pulled up, hinting at a smile. “I thought you’d say that. I don’t particularly want to see him become a general. And I may have a way to get your forgiveness then for what happened in Trilout.”
“What happened in Trilout?”
“Alekander knew we were together and set a band of his to kidnap me. They were going to kill me unless I gave him something on you. Selfishly, I chose to live.” Telvin swallowed and relaxed his shoulders. “I tried to escape to warn you about him…Before I knew what had happened, they’d drugged me with something awful that took three days from my memory and I was on a boat heading south. But after I got here, I didn’t look back. The position with King Bairndt is more than I could have hoped for. The only thing I have ever missed about Trilout was you.”
Darin noticed that Telvin didn’t hide his emotion as he said the last bit. But what she’d felt for him had changed. Now the attraction was only a matter of fact and his deceit wasn’t something she blamed him for. She’d have done the same in his place and she wouldn’t ask him what he’d told Alekander. “All that’s in the past now.”
“Alekander has many friends and trading partners here. But he’s got mor
e enemies. If you want to kill Alekander, I know of someone who’d like to help you.”
“And you trust them?”
“He’s an elite—a seer. When we were in Eldering, he asked if he could follow Alekander for a chance to send an arrow through his chest. I told him he was crazy, but the man is a close friend and I’d like to help him out as much as you. He was kidnapped from Trilout, just as I was many years ago, and Alekander had his family killed when he tried to escape. With a scenter at his side, he might have a chance with his bow. He’s a terrible tracker, but we keep him for his aim. I’ve never seen him miss a target. Find Alekander for him and he’ll take care of the rest…I’ll have myself satisfied as well.”
Telvin glanced again at the entrance of the storage room when a soldier’s voice rang out close by. “Meet me here tomorrow at dawn. I’ll bring the seer.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ranik kept to himself the first few days on the boat. He didn’t waste any energy trying to make friends, but he brought his flute out each night and played a song while the others played dice. Most of the time, he was too busy to be lonely. Between working the ropes and running orders for Captain and Anchor all day, he slept soundly each night and the dreams of the child were finally gone.
There was talk of the ousted king more and more as they closed in on Caratia. Bets on how long the king would stay in hiding were bantered along with how many Caratians would be killed with his return. Ranik ignored the subject. He didn’t care at all about soldiers or a battle in a city he only knew from a mark on the map. And for days on days they saw only the ocean stretched to every horizon. What happened on land didn’t matter to him now.
When Caratia finally came into view, Ranik was surprised at its beauty. Green hills sloped down to the city surrounded on all sides by a high stone wall. The four corners of the wall were marked by tall towers.
“Smoke,” the lookout called. He pointed to a thin column of smoke near one of the towers.
“And the king returns to claim his city,” Captain mused. “We’ve got good timing. King Bairndt will be sleeping in his old bed by tonight.”
“Unless he gets himself killed,” one of the crew mumbled.
Captain’s lip curled in annoyance. “The fire’s started. They’re burning dead bodies. Bairndt’s already won.” He handed his telescope to Anchor and continued, “Which means they’ll be wanting their supplies by tomorrow morning.”
Anchor smiled as he looked over the crew. “Cheer up, men. Dead bodies means money in your pockets.”
“We’ll drop anchor here,” Captain said. “No reason to show up early.”
For the rest of the day they watched men the size of small black dots charge each other on the green slopes outside the city. Ranik lost count of the fallen.
“I don’t see why we should rush in tomorrow morning,” one of the crew said. “They might not be done killing each other yet.”
Captain overheard the man and laughed. “Not done? Take an angry king and all of his soldiers, line them up in front of townsfolk with shovels and butcher knives—then tell me how long you think the fight will last? Bairndt will take back Caratia by dinnertime. This,” he pointed to the column of smoke, “is only the cleanup.”
“We’ll pull into the harbor at dawn then?” Anchor said.
Captain nodded. “Better get started sorting the order. Ranik, give Anchor a hand with the crates.”
* * *
Ranik went to sleep that night with the smell of the smoke in his hair and on his skin. Knowing that bodies were being burned in the pyre made his stomach turn, but the dots he’d watched on the hills above the city were all faceless strangers.
He awoke to Anchor’s whistle when the sky was still dark. They pulled into the harbor and were quickly met, as Captain had expected, by a line of soldiers. The soldiers were all clothed in black uniforms and exhaustion made their shoulders slump while dark circles hollowed their eyes. Many were tall Northerners with narrow noses and pale skin. One even had hair as blond as Jenner’s.
Anchor and Captain bartered prices with one of the lead soldiers, and Ranik decided to stretch his legs with a walk. Fires still burned and the stench of scorched flesh was overwhelming.
Following the wall that bordered the city, he picked his way to the closest tower. It was taller than any structure he’d seen and dizzying to look at. As he approached it, someone called his name and a chill raced up his spine. A soldier half hidden in the shadows at the side of the tower motioned to him. Ranik thought of running, but his feet were rooted to the ground. The soldier motioned again and then disappeared into an alcove. Ranik reluctantly walked toward the spot. There was a doorway at the side of the tower and he paused, searching the darkness.
“Over here,” the voice hissed.
He stepped through the doorway, his legs shaking. Despite the dim light, he recognized the fugitive in an instant. Darin. “What are you doing here? Is Aysha here?”
“Don’t worry—she’s safe and far from here.”
“What happened?”
“It’s too long a story. Anyway, what are you doing wandering about? Soldiers are everywhere. You’ll be mistaken for a Caratian.”
His throat tightened as he realized the mistake he’d made. “But I thought the fight was over.”
“They’re still picking off the leftovers. If you’re mistaken for a townsman, you’ll have an arrow in your back before you even realize someone had their sights set on you.”
“You’ve become a soldier?”
“No. I am only here as—as a scout.”
“Why are you hiding in here then? How do you know Aysha’s safe?” Ranik couldn’t trust anything Darin said. He glanced behind him and then around the small room, fearing he’d walked into some kind of trap.
She sighed. “Sit down. You need to know about Tiersten.”
The story she recounted was more than he’d bargained to hear. Tiersten was only a place from his mother’s stories, not a real place where his sister was in hiding…and believed to be a witch. It might explain Aysha’s skill as a healer if their grandmother had been one, but she had no place in the mess that had befallen Tiersten and Caratia. Ranik said as much when Darin finished her story.
“You should convince her to leave,” Ranik said. “She isn’t safe—you lied about that—if they think she’s a witch.”
“She thinks this might be her fate. That Tiersten is where she belongs. And she’s safe for now anyway.”
“I don’t believe in fate,” Ranik argued.
“But there’s no escaping it. I’ve tried.” She shook her head. “What happened to the woman who carries your child? What of that fate?”
Ranik was caught off guard by her question. “The child’s gone. Shawn nearly died as well, but…”
“I know the pain of losing a child,” she said slowly. “I’m sorry.”
Ranik had longed for someone to say those words. But she was the last person he’d expect to give him solace. And despite being dressed in soldier’s garb, Darin had an unexpected softness as she stepped toward him with open arms. He welcomed her embrace, holding back his tears. When she stepped away, the warmth he’d felt in her arms lingered as if she was still near him. Certainly there was a reason Aysha had left Glen Ore with her, and though he hadn’t seen it earlier, the way she seemed to read his emotions reminded him of Jenner.
“I think it’s my fault, partly,” he admitted.
“Then you’ll need to forgive yourself. It takes time…Why did you come here? You should be with your forecaster.”
“My forecaster?”
“Your friend with the riverboat. He’s a forecaster—at least that’s what he’d be called in the North. And he needs a compass.” When he shook his head, she continued, “A forecaster knows the winds and what the future brings, but they need someone—or something—to ground them. Otherwise their power will be all they think of. Some say knowing a forecaster is knowing your worst enemy. But that’s only if they�
��ve fallen in love with their own sense. He needs you, Ranik.”
A soldier’s voice rang out close to the alcove, and she stepped away from him. When she looked again at him, her softness had gone. She was the fugitive again, on guard. “If you plan on keeping your place on that cargo boat, you should leave now. I’m expecting someone anyway and I don’t want to explain why you’re here.”
“Will you pass something along to Aysha for me?” He reached in his coat and pulled out the wooden boat that he’d carried from home. “Tell her I miss her.”
She took the boat and slipped it in her pocket. “Keep your head down and go straight to the docks. I’ll watch you leave.”
* * *
It took a full day to unload the crates and Ranik didn’t stray from the boat again. He went to sleep thinking of Darin’s warning about Jenner and longing to be at his side more than ever. But he was stuck on a boat and had no idea where he had gone.
Dawn came with another whistle from Anchor. Ranik had morning watch, but he was slow to pull on his clothes and took his time climbing the ladder as well. Anchor motioned him over as soon as he saw him on the deck.
“We’re taking aboard a passenger. He missed the last boat to Crag because of the fighting.” Anchor pointed at the end of the dock. A giant of a man, clearly a Northerner with an ashen face and dark bushy hair, stared back at them. He almost seemed to be listening to their conversation. “Mind giving him a hand carrying his crates?”
Ranik minded it very much. The man’s gaze alone sent prickles up his spine and he disliked the thought of sharing sleeping quarters with him.
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