"There is no life 'cept the Order. Their power has now been weakened by the curse, and they must lift the curse from the lands before they themselves descend into madness, as have the others. We promised to always be brothers, in good times and the horrid. We Keepers have been blessed with the power of magic to do their will. Sviska, take the poison and finish your task. Perhaps you may find forgiveness by the Order."
Sviska stared at him. His blade was still in the snow, and going for it now would only open his neck to the blade of his once friend. At the very least, he could destroy the vials.
"Hand me the vials," he said, opening his hand toward Kasis.
"How about not. How about we go to the city together and taint the wine as you were tasked?"
"The city will detect you. You will have no chance."
"My dear friend, the city is all but powerless. I give you this only option; otherwise you will have forsaken the Order and retribution shall fall upon you swifter than the storming clouds growing around this forsaken mountain. I have an offer for you, Sviska. From the Order Hand himself. Simply complete your task as ordered and you may beg for forgiveness. He promises, at minimum, you will be free from their service. That is something that not even I have heard of, but you will be granted it."
"Kasis, the Order lies. The murdering they have done—"
"The murdering you and I have done, also! Do not forget your place, assassin."
"I am no longer an assassin."
"Then I have my answer," Kasis said. "The little girl you saw me murder in your dreams is only a taste of the power of the Order. Soon the Estate shall run red with the blood of all! Time has failed to destroy Elinathrond. The last task of Sviska has been refused and carries a sentence I shall carry out myself."
In a blast of snow and ice, Sviska summoned his dagger as the blade of Kasis swung toward him. He spun, his coat shielding him. The dagger of Meredaas flew into his fingers, and he wrapped his hands around the hilt of his weapon. The blunt strike of Kasis' blade on his back caused him to gasp. He had only lost his breath for the moment. No tissue was torn. His tunic, given to him by Brethor, had saved him.
He looked up and drove his blade into the cape of Kasis, but was kicked as his dagger missed flesh. Rolling, he struggled to see the cloaked figure in the darkness. A veil of blackness was on his eyes. He saw the form of Kasis appear, as well as the vials on his belt, tied with a black string.
He reached for them but missed. The blade of Kasis once again sliced at him, but this time he caught the blade in his cloak. With a closed fist, he struck Kasis in the nose, bloodying his face.
"We are no longer children outside the orphanage wrestling, Sviska. Perhaps you should learn some new things," Kasis said, now hissing. "I can teach you!"
Kasis pointed to the snow and then pointed to Sviska. The snow erupted, and the roots of the trees shot upward, grabbing both of his arms. He struggled, pulling against the magic, but the enchanted entanglements were stronger, and he grew tired. A single vine began snaking up his leg and to his stomach. He looked to his dagger and to Kasis. He saw the ice creeping up the point of the blade and looked again to his foe, reaching out a few inches. The dagger flashed blue, and then a bolt of ice struck Kasis in the face.
Kasis shook his head and rubbed his eyes. A red mark now marked his cheek and eye.
"Very nice."
He crossed his arms, tapped his foot, and flipped his finger upward as the vine traveled closer to Sviska's neck. Another vine pried the dagger from his hand and wrapped it in foliage.
The vials were still on his belt. Sviska needed to get free. All his mind could think was getting free only long enough to crush the vials. Then the Order's plan would be ruined. His life was secondary to him, if only he could complete that last task.
The vine was now at his neck, wrapping around like a viper that was about to devour its prey. The leaves on the vine were brushing his lips. Cold and icy, the vine began to constrict, and it became hard to breathe. His sight was beginning to fade as his desire to stay awake faltered.
"Weak man," Kasis hissed, staring at Sviska. "We are no mere assassins any longer. Through the power of the old gods, we are now Dark Ones. It is a shame you will never know the power you could have had."
As the last glimmers of sight faltered in Sviska's mind, he could feel thundering under his feet. He felt warmness behind him, and then saw a white light and then nothing.
Chapter 23 Sna-Sna
Sviska was on his back. He could not see yet but felt very groggy. His throat was sore, and he could not move. He felt like he was in a bog, sunken into the ground.
His eyes were regaining sight but not much. He could see a sliver of dim light. The smell of smoke and the hums of a curious but unknown source were nearby. He attempted to sit up but was very weak. With great effort, he managed to move his fingertips and then slowly his arm.
"Sna-Sna! You shouldn't move too much," a voice said.
Sviska could hear a raspy voice, unlike anyone he had met in the city, and a crunching sound as someone or something smacked nearby.
"Sna-Sna needs to get stronger."
The voice was becoming clearer, but Sviska was still too weak to actually move. Turning his eyes toward the sound of the voice, he made out what looked like a small fire. As his vision focused and he could open his eyes wider, he noticed a child-sized animal, hairy and one that had clearly never missed a meal, eating a leg of some animal of the woods. Like a dog with a bone, it chewed and swallowed the meat nearly whole, and then paused abruptly, looking at Sviska.
"Sna-Sna better?" it asked.
Sviska tried again to sit up but could not.
"I'm very weak."
"Sna-Sna nearly died. But the Great One of the woods saved you. No other magic, save his, may be used within the woods. At least the elf knows that."
"Did Berie save me?" Sviska asked, now with the strength to prop himself up on his hands.
"No, the Great One saved you! How lucky you are that the unicorns were there."
Sviska was now able to see that he was sitting inside something. Not a house, at least, in the traditional sense of the word. The roof curved upward with gentle slopes, and his nose sensed that he was in a slightly musty and dank place.
Peering out, he noticed horses grazing on grass that twinkled like tiny stars across the snow. He pushed himself toward the opening. He was in a tree, an old tree with jagged branches leading upward only a few feet before nothing. He was actually in a tree trunk. The creature behind him chuckled.
"You look like you've never seen the trunk of a tree. My humble home! Sna-Sna, do you want food?"
The creature offered him the bone he was holding, the red, stringy flesh hanging off. As hungry as he was, he was not that hungry.
"No, thank you." Sviska felt his sheath and found Sishan gone. "My dagger?"
"Sna-Sna doesn't eat? Weird man," the creature said under his breath, beginning to devour the meat again.
"My name is not Sna-Sna. It is . . ." He paused for a moment. He did not know which name to use. The creature had stopped eating and was staring at him.
"Your name is Sna-Sna, Sna-Sna. It is what I called you when I woke up and found you, and your metal stick is okay. I have it. The Great One brought you here. I am the tender of the grass for the unicorns. The great one is their magical protector. He is wise and old and will not let harm come to the woods. The dark shadow must've got you."
"Dark shadow?" Sviska asked, knowing what he meant but curious to what else he knew.
"The dark shadow. It has been here a few weeks. He met with the man in white robes from the city."
Ustavis. Sviska gritted his teeth.
"The elf knows of it but could not ever catch it. You had no problem catching it. Good job, Sna-Sna!"
Sviska's mind switched to the vials and to the thought that Kasis had them. He sat up and stood, falling back down just as quickly as he was up.
"You are too weak!" said the creature.
"S
top talking, you . . . thing!" cursed Sviska. He needed to get to the city and fast. He had to protect the wine.
"Sna-Sna! Do not get angry. I am a troll and I am friendly! Do not be mean!"
Sviska again attempted to stand, but fell again. "Unless you can carry me, I do not know what else you can help me with."
The horses were coming closer. Their skin a pale blue, he noticed a silver horn at the center of each of their heads.
Unicorns. What this creature is telling me is correct.
In unison, they brought their heads down. There was a melodic sound and a stomp from one in the herd. A rolling fog passed over him as a being as white as a full moon appeared. His face and arms were the only clear part that Sviska could see, but he placed his hand on Sviska’s shoulder.
"Friend of the city, you have immediate need to return to Elinathrond. We can get you there as fast as you wish." The man seemed to be talking, but his lips did not move.
Sviska looked at the man and then to the unicorns behind him. "I need to get there as soon as I can. It is important."
The man nodded, and again he heard the voice, but this time it was many more. The voices of the unicorns were speaking to him through this image.
"You were rescued by us. And now we will ferry you back to the city. Go in haste! For the one who sought your death went that way."
Sviska heard a scurry, like many mice behind him. He turned to see the troll rummaging about his house, searching. After overturning many pots and random trinkets, he paused, lifting Sviska's dagger from his disheveled belongings.
"Sna-Sna has powerful weapon. Troll of woods gives it to you again!"
The troll bowed and offered the dagger. Sviska took it and turned back to where the man was standing to find him gone. Near the edge of the clearing, a single unicorn now stood.
"Go! Sna-Sna! You need to hurry!" beckoned the troll.
Approaching the unicorn, the horse nodded its head and sat down, allowing Sviska to easily mount. It stood and gave Sviska a moment to take a grip on its silver hair. He turned to look back at the troll, who now simply stared at him, bobbing his entire body and waving.
Sviska went to say thank you, but before he could, the unicorn began to run. With not even so much as a trotting start, the unicorn rushed him through the night. With the wind and ice brushing up against his face, they fled out of the woods.
Reaching the outside of the woods, the unicorn galloped across the empty snowy expanse around the wall of the city, galloping right up to the massive gate he had not seen since he first arrived. The unicorn stopped as gracefully as it had begun.
Sviska exhaled sharply and then patted the horse on the neck. Releasing his grip, the horse lowered and he dismounted.
"Thank you," he said. The unicorn nodded and then, in a puff of blue fog, it was gone.
He looked up at the wall where he could just see two Brotherhood of Wura guards staring downward with wide eyes and obvious heavy breathing.
"Haven't you ever seen a unicorn?" he asked them, a tone of sarcasm on his tongue. They said nothing as they opened the gate, watching him as he passed through.
He began up the stone path hastily. His feet treaded upward even as weakness took his weary body. The bleak and abandoned level of the city was ominous and had fogs rolling over the tops of the empty shells. Reaching the second gate, he passed through without speaking to the guards and gave a simple nod. He went toward the Estate. The celebrations for the wine had become quite elaborate now, and many were about the courtyard and the gypsy area.
Slats was there filling the crystal bottles from the winery. He looked up as Sviska ran past him, leaping over the stacked barrels that were near tapping for the first servings of wine.
"Don't drink it!" he shouted, before bursting through the door of the Estate.
Slats ran after him but was unable to catch him.
Sviska was losing strength fast, but he stumbled down the stairwell, catching himself on the wall before turning and sprinting toward the winery. The door was open. Making the corner, he turned to find Kasis already there, a wry smile on his face. He opened his right hand and dropped the vials, each shattering on the ground, empty.
"Let it be known that of the two of us, I am stronger. But do not worry. Even if you used the poison, the Order cannot wait. You will see. Oh, and since things are as they are, I added a little special ingredient to the wine. You should find those who first taste it put on a lovely show." The Dark One smiled and began to fade into shadow.
Sviska jumped for Kasis, but he vanished from sight. The winemaker struck the ground, the shards of the vials embedding in his hands. The blood trickled down and speckled the ground as he stood up. He began to weep, looking around at the barrels that remained in the winery.
"My sir?" he heard behind him. Turning, he saw Slats. "Who was that and what was he talking about?" The dwarf was terror-stricken and shaking.
"The wine! When was the wine taken to the courtyard?"
"Just moments ago. I was here. That man was not. What was he talking about, a special ingredient?"
Sviska began past Slats and ran to the courtyard. He could hear shouts and chanting. The sounds of drums echoed through the walls. As he came to the doors of the Estate, he pushed them open, stumbling and falling down the stairwell. The drums were louder and the cheers of the people were about the city. He ran to the wine barrels. A barrel was just about to be opened when he stopped them.
"No!" he shouted. "The wine is poisoned!"
There was a sudden silence among the cheering. The revelry stopped, and the drums trickled away.
"What do you mean, poison?" a voice said. Sviska turned to see the old man, whom he had promised the first drink. "I got the first drink, like you promised, winemaker. I was just about to take my second sip! The first one was wonderful!"
The man brought the mug to his face and began to drink when he stopped and stared at Sviska. His eyes began to tremble, his hands quivered, and he dropped the mug, the remains of the wine melting into the snow. He grabbed at his face, tearing at his eyes. He gave a sharp yell of agony and collapsed, blood trickling from his ears and nose.
"It is poison," a voice said.
"Winemaker, how is this possible?"
The crowd of people was hastily becoming irate. There was random shouting, and soon, people were surrounding Sviska. The crowd smashed the wine that was there, and the barrels ripped apart, the wine spilling everywhere.
They began to move forward against the very walls of the Estate. Sviska continued to walk backward as curses and random objects flew toward him. He felt behind him for the door when a firm hand grabbed him from behind.
"Come in here before you are dead."
Chapter 24 The Guise Discovered
Brethor said nothing as he led him to the library and pushed him into the sitting area below it. Cusis was there, as was Slats and Berie, who stood motionless, staring out the window of the Estate. The old woman of the gypsies sat near the fire, her cards before her as she mumbled to herself. Garoa sat on a chair near the fire, also, and was looking directly at him, his gaze unwavering and concerned. Sviska took an empty seat near a table full of wines and other bottles.
"Good thing I got you out of there. I believe they would have had your head."
Sviska looked up at the lord, who was drinking from a silver chalice, the blood on his lips licked off as he set down the glass.
"Brethor, I need to tell—"
"The wine is ruined, poisoned by the Order. I know." He sat down on an empty chair and motioned for Sviska to do the same.
"Can I get you a drink, Sviska?" Cusis said, nodding as he stood.
Sviska could not speak. The fact that Cusis knew his name was a strange mix of comfort and terror. His heart thumped in his chest, and his palms were sweaty. He looked behind him, expecting the Priors or the Brotherhood of Wura to be waiting to carry him off to some dungeon.
"There is no one else here, Sviska. But I do ask, what of the
person in the woods?" said Brethor, scratching his head. "After Berie witnessed your little conversation and disagreement over my fate and the fate of the city, she hurried back to inform me of the plot. I knew of it, of course, but still, I attempted to stop the wine from being tainted. But the vials just being near the winery were enough to weaken the power of the wine. Unfortunately, I knew only of their presence. As the shipments arrived, I sensed something evil and ill." He stood and began to pace about the room, looking at each person in turn.
"Berie had told me of a dark presence in the woods. Due to the failing magic and the emergence of you four in the city, I chose not to try to find the source of my ill feelings. I wished to let things go forward so to keep the Order blinded to any other workings.
“The already weakened magic was made worse by the fact that your friend—Kasis, I believe is his name—had already assailed the wall and proved my worst fears. The city was defenseless. Aside from that, he was at the tavern I am sure for the same reason you were, to get the Annuals of Eclipses, a book that would be of great value to the Order."
Brethor poured himself more to drink, this time from the actual bottle of wine sitting near him. He took a long sip, closing his eyes.
"It is horrible that the wine was tainted before I could stop it, and although I knew that as your friend vanished before me in fear of his own pathetic life, there was little my seeking of him could do. My only desire was to give the people of the city hope."
Brethor paused again, looking across the room toward the mountains in the distance.
"Alas, such is life. I took a chance bringing you here. Against the advice of others, I sought your arrival. The murder of Loria was tragic but opened up the way to bring you in. I sent a message to the Grand Protectorate, and I knew the Order would have a hand in the answering. I sought a winemaker. After those in the cistern failed to do their work for the Order, I gave them another way in. They responded by sending you. The timing worked out that when you went into Taria, I was watching. I was able to get the message to them, and the rest we all know.
Saints of Wura: Winemaker of the North, Arcane Awakening, Reckoning in the Void (Saints of Wura Books 1-3 with bonus content) Page 21