by Mara Amberly
His foot hit the ledge and twisted sideways, but he was able to steady himself with his firm grip on the frame. It held no glass; the frame merely surrounded a hole in the stone wall. It was a close call, but not so worrying once he climbed through the window. Jonas breathed easier, and brushed the accumulated dust and muck off his clothing. He didn’t seem to have sprained his ankle, just twisted it slightly.
This house was more Spartan than his previous one, with bare walls and a floor that had gathered a fair amount of dust. Living in a desert, this happened quickly. He’d chosen the house for its location, nothing more, and he had what he needed to survive. That included blankets, which would make a difference in the cold, as it could drop down below freezing at night. Items like that were common enough, unlike weapons which were hard to find throughout the town at all. The buildings had been ransacked many times over by soldiers and those people they’d failed to capture, but useful items could still sometimes be found.
This house felt unprotected compared to Jonas’s childhood home, where he’d lived before he came here. It wasn’t like the cavern he knew with its walls of stone, and which he was unlikely to see again. Jonas had met a few people here in this town, but none truly wanted to be here. He’d also met none who shared his heritage, which was to be expected. He sat down on the hard floor, resting his back against the wall. I guess they didn’t have my comfort in mind when they exiled me. I bet Sandren would be laughing now.
Jonas scratched his arm, which itched from an insect bite. There were all sorts of pests and insects out here, trying to survive in the desert. He rubbed some saliva on it, because he found in the past that it sometimes worked when things stung, and dragged over his bag to rummage through the contents. There wasn’t much he could carry with him if he was going to go in as stealthily as he’d planned. He just didn’t want to throw his bag of possessions in there and have it spotted or have trouble retrieving it later. No, I’m going to leave some things here; the bulky things. I’ll need knives. Water, in case I’m there a while, but perhaps not food. I don’t intend to stay that long. He couldn’t think of much else offhand, other than the basics like rope. He examined each of the items he’d gathered and brought with him, deciding on their value for his mission.
He still wasn’t sure how he would approach things when he got there. He wasn’t as skilled as some at sorcery, but he had his own ability. He also knew how to chain a manse and alternately, unchain one if he needed to. Jonas wanted to get in there and assess the situation, and see what was really going on before he decided what to do. It was a hard thing, being an exiled guardian, especially when you knew the state of the world and wanted to do something about it. When you’re an ambitious prat too and don’t know your place. That’s what Sandren had told him, before he’d had Jonas dumped out the tunnel exit. Jonas had already decided Sandren was a pathetic excuse for a human being with no forethought whatsoever and a tendency to judge unfairly. It sounded arrogant, but Jonas knew he was smarter than that and good. No one else seemed to recognise it. They just saw him as a problem teenager who wouldn’t do what he was told.
There is a reason for that. You thought you knew best and I was a lackey to do your dirty work. I knew what was going on, despite your efforts to keep me from finding out. Just because I was young doesn’t mean I was incapable of doing anything right. I deserved a chance to prove it, but you found it easier to give me pointless tasks and blame me for your own mistakes. You don’t realise how horrible you were to deal with – day in, day out. I want to go back to my people but I want to be treated like a human being and be respected for the guardian that I am. I will show you and the others, because you’re too cowardly to come out here to Feidhlim like you should. I’m here now and I’ll do what you should’ve done long ago, and once I do, I’m going home. Not even Sandren will be able to stop me then.
Tears sprang into his eyes and he wiped them away. Jonas was upset, but more than that, he was angry. He felt the urge to vent except there was no one he could open up to. There was nothing to take it out on, either. There was only a cold, empty room in a near-deserted town. He felt so alone and he had a dangerous mission ahead of him that he might not survive. Jonas needed to focus on his priorities and not let the feelings of rage overtake him, but it was hard not to when he couldn’t do anything about them.
He settled on taking his three knives, a small handful of stones of magical value and his canteen. There was a belt he used for storing some things, and the sheathed knives fit into the slots in the belt perfectly. The canteen had a strap, so he could wear it across his body. There was a small bag he carried the stones in, and he slipped this into a buttoned section like a purse on his belt. It seemed the best way he could stow the items necessary for his plans.
He spread out a blanket on the floor, and lay down, closing his eyes to rest until it was dark outside. He wanted to be well-rested when the time came and he wasn’t much for waiting.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cassia sat down beside Alexa. The camp was just behind them, and the hill where they sat overlooked a field and more distantly, the inn. It was dark and the view was mottled by trees. Brigita leaned against the oak tree beside her, feeling bone weary.
“So let me get this straight. This man – Rudolf, who is now calling himself Knave–”
Cassia nodded with a straight face, “yes.”
Brigita sighed, “He knows you because you attended his execution and Alexa saved his life with a rune reading during his last rites?”
Alexa shook her head. “Actually, I’m fairly sure the gods saved his life. The runes foretold an important destiny and they fell in a spiral pattern that is quite rare.”
Brigita rubbed her eyes. “Alright, so what is it you’re looking to do? This man can go his own way and we can go ours. That’s that, correct? Or is there something I should know about?”
Alexa shook her head, “no.”
Cassia was a bit slower, but she likewise shook her head. “We’re both travelling toward the same city I assume, and he seems like a strong and capable man. I think we should consider letting him travel with us. He may feel that he owes us a debt for saving his life, though he doesn’t really, and he knows the area. He told me that he’s known the couple who run the inn for a while.”
Alexa said, “That doesn’t mean he was telling you the truth.”
Cassia nodded, “I know, but I think he was. Somehow it feels like our fates are entwined, otherwise why would we save his life the same day the temple was burned? Being at his intended execution saved our lives, or at least made it a lot easier to survive. I feel that somehow he has a part to play in the events to come. I can’t for the life of me figure out what it is, but perhaps just by being with us, he will help protect us.”
Brigita considered, “or he could be a danger. You said he killed the Captain of the vessel he was serving on. That makes him a risk to us, Cassia.”
Alexa looked around her in the darkness. “Are you sure he’s travelling to Kelbani?”
Cassia wasn’t entirely sure, but it made sense. “I think so. It’s the only major destination of this trade road, right? It’s almost a given that he’s travelling there or stopping through. He also told me his nickname was the ‘Bastard of Kelbani’.” Cassia grinned, “So I’d say it’s a fair bet.”
Brigita brushed off her hands and looked out over the hillside. Her bones ached from the walking, as well as the colder weather.
“It’s your choice, Cassia, but you have to consider the man a risk. It seems unlikely he’s working with the Nemorans but that isn’t to say he wouldn’t sell us out to them. A bad choice now could cost us our lives.”
Cassia sighed. “I know we have to be careful, but we’re also alone out here. I know every single person is a risk, just as they will be in Kelbani, other than our fellow sisters. Even then, how can we be sure they’re all trustworthy? I wonder if one or more of our sisters could’ve been planted by the Nemorans or somehow compromised. The
y would have an insight into our security, our people and into everything, really. I don’t like doubting any of our sisters, especially when so many have perished, but if I was an evil cultist, that’s what I might do.”
Brigita nodded, “yes, I’ve considered it and as much as it pains me to admit it, I believe it’s likely that some of our sisters were feeding the Nemorans information or worse, directly involved in the attack. While Hermea came very close to dying, I had reason to wonder if she might’ve been left there for us to find or simply disposed of once she’d carried out her role. She or any of the newer girls could have been responsible, perhaps even sisters who had been with us longer. I wouldn’t put it past the Nemorans to kill their spies after the attack or leave them to burn with the rest of us. However, it’s impossible to say with certainty, at least for the time being. If this man – Knave, gives us an advantage of some sort, it’s one the Nemorans wouldn’t know about. An unknown advantage is one that may be especially useful to us.”
Cassia bit her lip. “So does that mean we should change our path in case the Nemorans know to follow us?”
Alexa didn’t see too many options. “We only could up to a point if we’re going to Kelbani. There’s only a single pass into the city and there’s no getting around that. We could stay off the road where possible, but that’s about it.”
“If Hermea is allied with the Nemorans,” Brigita said, thinking aloud, “she wouldn’t be pleased with them for leaving her to die. She owes us for her survival. While there may be one or more spies at the inn, if she walked straight back to Kalle, there would be a delay before she’d reach them with information.”
Alexa thought on it for a moment, unsure. “I’m fairly sure she would’ve gone to the inn. She wanted to earlier so we’re looking at the possibility they already know.”
Cassia shrugged, “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. There was a bearded man paying me a lot of attention and I think he might’ve been a spy. After a while he walked off upstairs, and if he was spying on me, perhaps he reached the conclusion I wasn’t a priestess. If they knew we were here, they probably would’ve acted by now. Still, I think we should be careful because it makes sense that they’d have their people watching the inn.”
Cassia began eating some bread from her bag, then realised she still hadn’t given the ladies their food package. “I brought you some bread, meat and cheese.” She lifted out the remaining bread and handed over the heavy package wrapped in paper. “Rudolf said that I should be careful about buying food when someone wanted to kill me, but he seemed sure about the owners of the inn.”
Brigita eyed the food dubiously and Cassia smiled reassuringly.
“I’m about as sure as I can be that it’s safe. I was speaking with the owner and he seemed comfortable, friendly and a bit talkative. He didn’t seem tense and it’s not like we’d met before.”
Brigita sighed, “Unless Hermea was working for them and forewarned the people in the inn about us.”
Cassia couldn’t help but nod. There was still a chance the food may have been tampered with.
“However,” Brigita said, “I can’t see that we have much choice. We’re going to need food to make it to Kelbani and possibly once we’re there, and we don’t have much else in the way of provisions. I’m very hungry right now and this smells good – thank you, Cassia.”
The red-haired priestess gave her a smile. “I’ve already had a bowl of the stew and I’m feeling fine. Since I bought it, I’ll try it and if nothing untoward happens to me, you know it probably wasn’t poisonous.”
Brigita shook her head, “let me try this one.” She opened the package and was greeted with the alluring scent of fresh meat, bread and cheese as promised. It was still warm to the touch, though it had cooled considerably since Malcolm had brought it to Cassia.
“There’s nothing magical we can do to ensure the food is safe, is there?” Alexa asked, and the oblivious stares of the other sisters answered her question.
“I know I can heighten my senses,” she said, “but it’s not going to be much help if I don’t know what a poison smells like.”
“I might be able to heal us from the effects of a poison,” Brigita said, which likely made her the worst choice to be the taste-tester.
The elder priestess tried some of the meat, then bread, and a piece of the cheese, picking at various pieces throughout the bundle to see they were alright. She didn’t keel over or feel ill at all. She was so hungry and the food was fresh and tasty. It was off-putting that there was a risk of poisoning, but she tried not to let it spoil her enjoyment of the meal. “That’s wonderful. If you ladies want to leave it a day or two, you can be more certain that the food isn’t poisoned. If you would rather eat, then dig in.
“Decisions, decisions,” Alexa said, gazing down at the roasted meat with a sigh. “I think I’m going to take a chance on it.”
Brigita didn’t look surprised, though she was a little amused.
“Let’s have our dinner then and get some rest. Cassia, do you want to speak with Rudolf tonight?”
It sounded like a good idea to the fire sorceress. “I think I will, yes.”
Brigita nodded in agreement. “Please tell him that we would appreciate any attempt at defence he might provide and would welcome his presence on the journey.”
Cassia smiled, “I can do that.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was a short walk back to the inn and Cassia felt more alone in the darkness. While it probably wouldn’t have caused any problem bringing Alexa and Brigita with her, she didn’t want to raise suspicions or increase the odds that they’d be identified as priestesses. The hour was late, and Brigita and Alexa had taken shelter in the stables, as it was warmer than the area behind the inn and there were no horses stabled at present. Cassia drew her cloak around herself as she approached the door of the inn. She’d expected it might be locked now, but when she pushed on the door, it opened. There was no one in the common room at all, which felt rather eerie – although she’d have been more worried if the man who’d been watching her was there alone.
Cassia made her way upstairs and knocked on the door of room five. No one immediately opened the door, but then she heard several footsteps on the other side.
The door opened a crack and a hushed voice asked, “Who is it?”
Cassia couldn’t help but grin at how paranoid this seemed. Maybe I’m the one who should be exercising more caution?
“Your best friend or your worst enemy. You decide.” It certainly wasn’t a typical introduction.
A heartbeat passed and the door creaked open. She saw Rudolf’s face and he appeared surprised.
“Come in.”
Cassia looked up and down the hall, and had a moment of indecision – thinking she probably shouldn’t go into his room. She hung back long enough for Knave to likely notice her discomfort, before she made a snap decision and walked inside. The hallway wouldn’t have been a good place to talk.
Where did he even get the money for an inn room, I wonder? Could he have had money before he was arrested? She didn’t imagine the guards would give it back, so he likely had it stashed somewhere. That or he robbed someone, like the attacker whose body I left lying in the street. She tried not to think about that as she glanced around the room, examining its unfamiliar details.
Knave closed the door behind her. He looked much as he had earlier: still dressed in a shirt and trousers, his hair dark brown and his eyes a bright, almost sky, blue.
The room was simple but comfortable. The covers of the bed were rumpled, suggesting Knave had probably been resting on it before he’d opened the door. Cassia noticed he had a sheathed knife on his belt, and the hilt of another weapon jutted out from under the edge of his pillow.
“Expecting company?” she asked.
He smiled with a bemused expression. She gestured to the weapons.
Knave nodded at Cassia’s perceptiveness. “It does no harm to be prepared when you have a choice to be.
It wasn’t long ago that I was as good as dead, with my freedom but a memory. It makes me inclined to want to defend myself should anyone think to come between me and my life or freedom again.”
Cassia found a chair tucked in under a small table by the window, so she pulled it out and sat down. It wasn’t particularly sturdy but it was good to sit down after all the walking.
“I’d say I wouldn’t know what that’s like, but the truth is I had little freedom until recently. Up at 5 each morning for devotion and thaumaturgy, and while our days were long, they were much easier I expect than yours were.”
The look he gave her implied he was grateful for the thought but he was reluctant to talk about it.
“It’s over with now. Done and dusted, and so is Kalle as far as I’m concerned. I want nothing more to do with that place or its people.” He paused, “present company excluded.”
She leaned forward on the chair, bringing her elbow around to rest on the table.
“Are you headed to Kelbani? I mean directly?”
He wondered why she wanted to know. “Does it matter? Is there any reason-?”
“Well,” she explained, “I thought we might travel together in that direction. I realise it might not be safer for you, because as I said, someone is trying to kill me. Well, us.”
He gave her a long measuring look. “You could stay here tonight.”
Cassia shook her head, “oh no. I’m a priestess. Don’t you know what that means?”