A Single Spark

by Tayvia Pierce

  I let out a sigh, a deep anguish settling over me at the idea it had all been a lie. I wasn’t wholly convinced of it, however. Not all of it was manipulation...It couldn’t have been. Was our kiss just a manipulation? The thought of it being so made my stomach turn. “My family really is cursed,” I mumbled under my breath before giving a short, bleak laugh.

  Owain gave me a sympathetic look before his grim expression resumed. “Azkaelomin wandering the land, Lightless hiding among the citizens...a war is brewing, Lady Carys, and our enemies have already managed to infiltrate the lands my kinsman protect under our very noses. Exercise extreme caution, my Lady.” With that said, he rose, finishing the last of his ale. “We will speak again soon, I’m certain. Good day.” He gave a light bow and headed out of the room, leaving me to my dismal thoughts as I buried my face in my hands.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  It was hard to pass up spending this particular winter afternoon in The Pipe & Fiddle pub, the warm, cozy atmosphere permitting us to forget the chilly air outside. The pub was filled with the cheerful conversations of other patrons who were looking to fill their afternoon with good friends, good ale, and good music, and I had been more than willing to come along at Rhian’s suggestion.

  Rhian had brought her lute to the pub today, the flame-haired barkeep having told her she was welcome to the stage anytime and today was the first she had found the nerve for a public performance. I was proud of her for it, as she had always been too shy but it would seem she was finding some confidence at last. Brynmor sat next to me as we listened to my sister play, having an animated discussion with Iolyn, though I wasn’t listening. Try as I might, I was not particularly interested in the different brewing methods of ale and how it affected the taste.

  I was more content to stare out the windows to the park just outside. Tall, leafless trees offered very little shade, the spindly shrubbery awaiting spring that would bring with it both greenery and flowers. Buildings surrounded the small park on all sides, various shops, the looming jail on the far side of those shops, and finally the infirmary a ways down the street. I couldn’t prevent my eyes from drifting towards it constantly, despite my efforts to the opposite. Rhian had been begging to go visit Ben, and I told her possibly today. Owain’s words from a few days prior still echoed in my ears, and while I had told Rhian we would go, there was no way I would let her go alone, especially if he truly was one of the Lightless.

  I saw a little head bobbing outside, a child jumping to try to see through the window to the pub inside, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. A moment later, the same head reappeared fully, peering in between grubby little hands that pressed up against the pane, and I blinked in surprise. Tam?

  He caught sight of me and waved, beckoning me to come over to him. I didn’t take my eyes from the boy, but murmured to Brynmor, “I will be right back.” I don’t even know if he heard me, but I rose to my feet and headed over towards Tam and the door, smiling at him before ducking through the outside. “Hi, Tam.”

  The child reached up to grab my hand, saying. “Ben needs t’ talk to ya.” He started off towards the infirmary, dragging me along with him. I cast a glance over my shoulder towards my family, about to protest this unexpected summons, but they didn’t even seem to care that I had gone. It isn’t like I am going far, and I’ll be back shortly. I turned back to go with Tam.

  Ben was not in his room, but slowly pacing the hallway with a deep frown etched onto his features. I wasn’t sure if he was worried or angry or both, but regardless of his mood, it still didn’t explain why he was summoning me...He no longer worked for us, and whether or not he actually cared about us was still suspect.

  He stopped in his tracks when he saw me standing there, the relief flickering in his eyes quickly turning to worry. He limped awkwardly towards me, taking my arm to steer me away from his room as he growled. “Where is your family?”

  I turned to look at him, trying not to trip as I was propelled into the larger front room. “Madox, Rhian, Iolyn, and Brynmor are at the Pipe & Fiddle down the street and Mother is at home, I think. Darius and Derryth are with her. Why?” He maneuvered me into the far corner, away from any listening ears.

  His voice was low, and filled with urgency. “Amir was brought into the infirmary last night, and placed in my room by chance.” His lips neared my ear as he lowered his voice even more, forcing me to strain just to hear him. “He might have gone mad, but he confessed to murdering your father.” My head snapped over to stare at him, my brow creasing deeply as his words sunk in.

  “What? I mean...why would he...?” I whispered, my thoughts instantly tumbling over themselves as I struggled to put the pieces together. The assassin who killed my father was here and in Ben’s room… and he confessed. I could barely breathe, my hand absently reaching around to grip Ben’s arm to steady myself. In that moment he was my friend, all thoughts and questions to his true identity fading to the back of my mind.

  “He said he did it for the money.” He said lowly, eyes searching my face. “Who would have your father assassinated, Carys?” He rounded in front of me, frowning down to me as though I had been holding onto some deep and dark secret that would explain all of this, but I had no answers to give. My torrent of thoughts ceased in an instant and my mind went blank.

  “I don’t... I don’t know.” I whispered. I had settled with the thought that perhaps it had been a random act of violence, but someone hiring a killer to murder my father? I didn’t understand why. We had nothing anyone could want. “Are you certain this wasn’t just the ramblings of a madman? He has been watching our family for months. Maybe he just said it to rattle you...and us…” My voice trailed off, as I couldn’t think of one reason he would do such a thing, madman or not.

  I looked up to him searching his face, though I knew there would be no answers there. Those eyes...a whirlwind of emotion showed, yet so much remained veiled from me. Owain’s words returned, blazing like fire in my mind. Ben played with our emotions and manipulated us...he used us. Yet I still trusted him and I had no idea why.

  I lowered my gaze from his, pulling my arm from his grip and shook my head. Ben was Lightless guarding a Taurovan family. Ben decides to leave us on the very day my Father is assassinated...then the Yehketim killer happens to end up injured and in Ben’s room? I reached up and pressed my palm to my forehead not even sure what I was thinking. What if...Ben was involved with my Father’s death?

  Ben was a Shadow’s Man and hiding in my home. He worked so hard to become a part of the household, but why? Was it to get close to Father? Did that have anything to do with the rumors in Perinthas? What were the odds that two different men of the south would happen to find our family and then be associated surrounding the death of Father? I was going crazy trying to think through all the variables and possibilities, Ben’s hand gripping my shoulder pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Carys.” He was looking at me with the utmost concern now, relieved when I finally opened my eyes to look at him. “You and your family are in danger, Carys.” He whispered to me. “The woman, Zahra, she is supposedly not involved but I wouldn’t believe Amir. She would do anything he asked of her, and he wants Rhian, so make sure she is well guarded at all times.”

  Again, he looked out for Rhian. Always Rhian. I let out a tired sigh and nodded. “She is always with someone, she’s fine. At least I can walk around the city without worry.” It was difficult to keep the biting sarcasm out of my voice, and I clearly failed as Ben’s frown deepened and his lips parted to argue, but Rhian and Brynmor walked in at that time, looking around. Rhian’s face lit up as she saw Ben, rushing over to gently hug him.

  “Ben! I am so relieved that you are alright! Carys refused to let me come see you.” She shot me a glare before giving Ben a concerned look-over. “I heard you collapsed and I was worried sick. You are looking well, though, so...you can come back to work for us soon. I’m sure whatever nonsense that made Carys fire you can be undone.” She smiled shyly up to him and Be
n frowned, glancing over to me with an indecipherable look. I hated that look.

  I could feel my cheeks turning red and I murmured quietly back to her. “It wasn’t nonsense, and this is not the time nor the place for this discussion.” I whispered hoarsely to her, avoiding Ben’s eyes. Brynmor started to laugh quietly behind Rhian, and I could feel Ben’s scathing gaze turning towards my betrothed, speaking before Brynmor could make a trademark inappropriate comment.

  “And with Lord Llew’s death, do you take their safety seriously yet?” Ben directed his comment to Brynmor, his voice smooth, but chilly. “You have sworn an oath to guard this family, and soon you will become one of them and yet you laugh. Will you laugh when Rhian turns up dead by an assassin’s blade? What of Carys? Will you let her wander the streets alone because you fail to see the dangers in front of your face?” He was nearly snarling at Bryn by now, his anger barely reined in.

  Brynmor’s laughter ceased, his smirk swiftly fading as the sobering reality of the potential dangers finally occurred to him, his expression growing annoyed by the fact that Ben had been the one to point it out. I’m not sure if it was the recalling of Rhian’s abduction, the thugs that tried to rob us, or Father’s murder that finally got his attention, and I didn’t even care which, as long as something did.

  Rhian’s face looked pinched, paling a little at the mention of her own swift demise. “But...why would an assassin come for us?” She asked meekly, searching Ben’s face as her own creased with worry.

  Ben wouldn’t answer that, guarding Rhian against the growing threat of Amir and Zahra. His eyes flicked from Rhian’s to mine. “It is not safe out there.” He growled at me, bypassing Rhian’s question and choosing now to argue against my earlier comment about walking the streets alone.

  Brynmor regained his usual haughty distaste for Ben and pulled Rhian gently back from the other man. He almost sounded chipper when he said. “There, you came, you saw, you spoke. Time to go, Rhi.” Rhian’s face contorted into a petulant frown and her nose went up.

  Ben’s jaw tightened as he glanced out the window, saying to Rhian in his usual smooth voice. “You should go with your family, Lady Rhian.” He spared one more glance to me, holding my gaze for an extra moment before turning to limp slowly back to his room.

  CHAPTER 60

  Amir and Zahra had become fairly well known around Lund and had become the subject of vast amounts of gossip and speculation. Amir was handsome, charming and mysterious, and had become the subject of many fantasies among the ladies. Zahra was exquisitely beautiful, beguiling, and even more of a mystery than her counterpart, and was the subject of great envy and loathing among those same women.

  Amir, ignoring the attempts to capture his attentions by many of the women in town, had set his gaze on Rhian. More often than not, he found a way to be present at the same places she was, leaving Zahra, according to the local rumor mill, less than pleased about her mate’s diverted attentions.

  But why murder father? And why confess your crime to the guard of my family?

  I was alone, tucked away near the back hearth of the Silver Stag’s main room with my letter-writing and my wine, not in the mood for company, though I was too restless to sit at home. My thoughts of the Southern couple faded to be replaced by memories of the Azkaelomin as I overheard a couple of women chatting just around the corner.

  “I heard they never did find those men that kidnapped that Taurovan girl in the Badlands.” I heard a lady gossiping to the other at her table. “Someone said she was taken by Azkaelomin, but could you imagine? The enemy’s dark forces here?” She giggled as though it was just a practical joke as the other lady responded, equally dubious. “Might as well say the Ghoul took her. It was probably just hill men who got themselves some fancy robes to scare folk. Everyone knows that Azkaelomin never leave anyone alive. I heard they are cannibals.” I shot a look over in the direction of the women’s voices, frowning a little until a familiar figure stepped around the corner.

  Taliesin’s tall frame loomed as his grey eyes settled on me, a charming smile form on his face. He caught the waitress as she passed, smiling down to her as he placed his order before he approached, his limping gait scraping softly on the floorboards. “Lady Carys, what a pleasant surprise.” He smiled down to me and motioned to the empty bench across from me. “I would hate to interrupt your task, but I would enjoy the pleasure of your company, if you would have me?”

  I looked down to the half penned letter on the table, deciding that a conversation with him would be greatly preferable to writing the list of our bad news. “Please sit, I was merely writing a letter to my cousin back in Perinthas.” I put my writing things and the letter back into my satchel while pulling my goblet closer.

  Taliesin seemed to have the ability to look through a person and while he smiled lightly, he seemed to sense the heaviness in my heart. His head tilted a little as he studied me, finally commenting. “You look to be having a trying day, Lady Carys.”

  I snorted softly and ran my fingertip along the rim of my goblet as I admitted softly. “My father passed away not long ago, so I was writing my extended family in Taurova to inform them. The remainder of our estate is still out there, and there are many other arrangements to be made, so yes, it has been a difficult time.” I mustered up a smile for Taliesin, though I found myself wondering why Ben had reacted the way he did to this man. He seemed warm and caring and wise, and despite Ben’s apparent fear, I liked Taliesin.

  He carried with him a powerful presence, and it wasn’t simply his height or attractiveness; he had a charismatic and caring demeanor about him and as much as I wished to be wary, I found myself instinctively trusting him.

  Taliesin’s brow furrowed and he shook his head lightly. “I am sorry to hear that, Lady Carys. It does seem like trouble follows your family. You have my condolences. What happened, if I may ask?” His voice grew increasingly gentle and kind, leaning forward to set his elbows on the table to close the gap between us a little as he listened attentively.

  I chewed on my lip, not sure how much to tell him about the circumstances of Father’s death. There were so many unanswered questions, but finally I couldn’t see the harm in telling him the truth. “He was murdered, though the reasoning for such an act is completely beyond my grasp.” I could feel my throat closing up, the grief still too near to be able to discuss it much.

  Taliesin’s brows furrowed deeply and he asked quietly, ensuring no other patrons could hear. “Did the Azkaelomin follow you from the Badlands?” I frowned as a terrible thought invaded my mind. Could Amir and Zahra be the Azkaelomin? I shook my head against that idea, as the pair that kidnapped Rhian had both been men, but the unwelcome recollection of my sister’s talk of there being other people in their camp quickly cast doubts on my assumption that they weren’t.

  “No, I don’t believe so, but I suppose it could be possible. I don’t know what else they could hope to gain.” His hand had absently dropped to his thigh as our discussion of the Azkaelomin continued, his palm placed over the now-healed injury. I took a little sip of my wine as I studied the man across from me, asking quietly. “You had a run-in with them, yes? What can you tell me about them? What purpose would they have in abducting a sixteen year old girl? It couldn’t have been about the money. They are hardly common thugs.”

  Taliesin’s brows slowly rose and he flashed a little smile. “You presume to ask me how a criminal’s mind works? I’m afraid I do not know, Lady Carys.” I reddened slightly, now realizing how my question must have sounded and I shook my head.

  “That came out sounding worse than I intended, my apologies. You happen to be the only other person that I know of who has had first hand experiences with them, so it was my hope that you could provide some insight. I am trying, and failing, to understand what they really wanted.”

  Taliesin took his ale from the waitress as she returned, setting it on the small table. He was quiet, looking at his cup briefly before lifting his chin to study me. He
seemed to be appraising me more often than not today, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. Finally he answered quietly, absently rubbing at his right leg. “I’m afraid our meeting was brief, and they were not so inclined to casual conversation.” He said vaguely.

  That was not the insight I was in need of, so I probed further. “Where were they when you came across them? In a camp? On the road? What were they doing before they attacked you?” I peppered him with questions, more and more coming to mind as I thought over his brief experience with our mutual foes.

  He shook his head lightly, offering me a wry smile. “There was no camp, and I did not see them before they attacked. If I had seen them, I would likely have full use of my leg today.”

  My own brows rose in curiosity, lifting my goblet to my lips for a sip as I considered this. “They ambushed you? What did you have that they wanted?” I finally took a drink, though my attention was wholly on the man in front of me.

  Taliesin’s expression hardened and he looked down into his own ale. “My wife.” Anger reflected in his eyes and in the coarseness of his tone, going one step further to answer my ignorant and bewildered look with an explanation. “They wanted her for the reason any man desires to take a woman.” The unspoken answer was left to linger in the air, and I could feel my cheeks warm with shame.