Tears of the Sun

by Jennifer McCormack

  “The assassin is working with the Coruscalli,” Jan replied. “Also, Morgsten tried to eliminate me once before. Since then, I have only given him more reasons to want me out of the picture.” She recalled her last confrontation with Morgsten, when he showed unannounced at the Vermillion Temple. She had threatened to expose him to the High Council of Lythril, and in turn Morgsten had threatened to spread the rumor that she was having a scandalous affair with Talon. Jan still had not mentioned the conversation to anyone, not even her most trusted allies. Although Morgsten’s claims were untrue, it still brought about a feeling of guilt, a sensation that was only intensified every time she thought about how she had kept Talon around as a glorified prisoner for so long. Morgsten’s claims made Jan question her motives in forming an alliance with Talon. She could not bear to speak of such things with Rhys or Beatrix, and the mere thought of discussing it with Talon was mortifying.

  “We can’t rule out the possibility that we were followed,” Jan

  continued.

  “All the way from Kalvatin?” Rhys asked. “We’ve been traveling for weeks, and I have seen no signs of pursuit.”

  “We know from experience that this assassin is a clever one.”

  “Or perhaps the assassin is merely well-equipped,” Talon

  interjected. “I believe I know how our friend manages to appear and disappear so quickly. That same theory could also explain how we were trailed for so long without anyone realizing it.” Talon paused a little uncertainly before continuing. “There exists in some Ancinet ruins devices which enable one to travel undetected. It’s almost as if the user’s presence is masked entirely.”

  “Sort of like a cloaking spell?” Beatrix asked.

  “The two are similar, but while a cloaking spell only contains enough arcane power to mask its user for a short time, these devices can power a simple cloaking spell for days.”

  “No wonder we didn’t know we were being followed,” Jan said. “But if these Ancient devices are so efficient, why did we suddenly notice the assassin’s presence?”

  “Maybe the assassin wanted us to know,” Talon said.

  “But why reveal his presence now, after all this time?” Jan asked.

  “Tarnon’s Watch is an out of the way place,” Talon said, “especially for Mainlanders. Perhaps the assassin wishes to prove a point, that no matter where in the world you run, you will never escape the Coruscalli’s wrath.”

  “With so many cutthroats in Tarnon’s Watch,” Rhys added, “it would be easy for the Coruscalli to get rid of a group of Mainlanders without drawing any undue attention to its actions. An official report would likely state that we were murdered by the ruffians that tend to frequent these islands.”

  “It seems the assassin’s focus has shifted from Talon to Jan,” Beatrix said. “Given the circumstances, I suppose eliminating the Grand Arbiter would be the Coruscalli’s top priority. It would take the Arbiters some time to recover from the loss of a second Grand Arbiter in such a short time. Meanwhile, the pressure would be off of Morgsten and the cult.”

  “What of Talon?” Jan asked. “Morgsten made it clear that he requires the services of someone trained in the language of the Ancients in order to gain access to the Firebringer. Is acquiring Talon a lost cause now that we’re so close to Astraeyu Nouvi?”

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” Talon said. “If the Coruscalli are as close to the Firebringer as Morgsten seems to believe, he will not rest until he has attained the cooperation of an Astraeyu Nouvin with knowledge of the Ancients. Luckily, there are few in Astraeyu Nouvi with sufficient knowledge of the Ancients and their devices. Only those serving under Astraeyu’s Will have the information required, and they will never form an alliance with the Coruscalli. Astraeyu Nouvi will burn first.”

  “Still,” Jan interjected, “that doesn’t mean that Morgsten won’t try. There are spells capable of influencing the mind. Normally, practice of such magic is banned, but I wouldn’t put it past the Coruscalli to employ the arcane for devious purposes.”

  “Then we should hurry,” Talon said. “We all know the assassin will strike again. What we don’t know is where and when the next attack will be. I say we turn the tides in our favor.”

  “How? We don’t even know where the assassin is hiding.”

  “We already know the assassin is targeting Arbiter Sterling and me. If we could lure the assassin out in the open where there is no place left to hide, we would have control of the playing field.” Talon paused and faced Jan. “I suggest we intentionally place ourselves in harm’s way. If Jan and I are seen exploring Tarnon’s Watch on our own, the assassin will likely choose that time to strike. What the assassin won’t realize is that we will be ready.”

  “It’s too risky,” Rhys said. “Besides, we already tried luring the assassin into an ambush. What makes you think it will work next time?”

  “Next time we won’t be clustered together in a group. If we are apart, it will make it more difficult for the assassin to track our movements. We won’t be in one place as we are now, but we will always be only a short distance from each other.” Talon looked again at Jan. “It is ultimately Arbiter Sterling’s decision.”

  What Talon suggested was dangerous, but if it meant that they could finally apprehend the slippery assassin, Jan was willing to try it.

  “You would be with me at all times?” Jan asked Talon. “That doesn’t sound so bad. I’m completely confident in Talon’s ability to protect me from the assassin’s attack. What of Rhys and Beatrix?”

  “They would be nearby,” Talon said. “I thought that Beatrix could use her arcane powers to track the assassin. You know how to use a scrying crystal, no?”

  “My dear,” Beatrix said with a toothy smile, “I’ve been scrying for as long as you’ve been using swords. Give me a crystal, and I will find the assassin.”

  Jan didn’t doubt the truth in Beatrix’s words. Her Arcane Advisor had probably been using scrying crystals since she knew how to walk.

  “With the information gained from Beatrix’s scrying, the Knight-Commander could follow the assassin, always out of sight but close enough to act should the need arise.” Talon glanced hopefully at Jan, waiting for her answer.

  “It’s a clever plan,” Jan said. “At the moment, it’s the only plan we have. I think we should try it.”

  “I still think it places the Grand Arbiter in unnecessary danger,” Rhys said.

  “Don’t worry so much,” Beatrix chided him. “The Grand Arbiter has you for reinforcements. She will never be in any real danger.” She gave Rhys a wink. Rhys turned away from Beatrix with a scowl, but not before Jan noticed the blush reddening his face.

  “Also I think I should mention to keep knowledge of this operation between the four of us,” Jan said. “As much as I hate to think that one of the Arbiters accompanying us may be the assassin, we can’t rule out that possibility.”

  “These men and women aren’t even from Kalvatin,” Rhys protested.

  “Maybe the assassin was never a Kalvat in the first place. We were only led to believe that to keep us from suspecting the truth.”

  “Jan is right,” Talon said. “Whoever this assassin is has close ties, not only with the Arbiters, but with the Grand Arbiter herself. Perhaps that is how the assassin was able to follow us across the Four Kingdoms without arousing suspicion. If the assassin was traveling with our group, he or she would have no reason to hide.”

  “As much as I hate to admit it,” Rhys said, “that makes sense. It also explains why the assassin waited until now to reveal his intentions. We are well beyond the prying eyes of the High Council of Lythril. If anything happens to our expedition from this point, the Astraeyu Nouvins will be blamed.”

  “That’s probably part of Morgsten’s plan,” Talon said. “Have Arbiter Sterling and her group killed in the north, and make it look like the Astraeyu Nouvins were responsible.”

  “What Morgsten wasn’t counti
ng on was that we would fight back,” Jan said. “The assassin couldn’t have expected that we would develop a counterplan.”

  “The sooner we set this plan in motion, the better,” Talon said. “I don’t enjoy the idea of being watched by the assassin.”

  It must have been difficult for Talon, Jan thought, to suddenly be the target, to become the hunted instead of the hunter.

  “Talon is right,” Jan said. “We should get started right away. The longer we wait, the more time the assassin has to figure out we are planning something.”

  AFTER SEPARATING FROM Rhys and Beatrix, Jan and Talon continued through Tarnon’s Watch. Their destination was at the docks, where presumably they would check with Larai’s progress with preparing their travel arrangements. Rhys waited farther ahead. That was where they expected to encounter trouble, so that was where reinforcements were needed the most.

  “I feel eyes upon me,” Jan said quietly, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

  Next to her, Talon kept one hand near her swords at all times. “The assassin does not disappoint,” she said. A strange gleam flashed in her eye as she kept her gaze focused ahead. “It won’t be long now.”

  Jan did not share Talon’s passion for battle, but she was as eager as anyone to put this matter to rest. More eager, in fact, since it was her life that was being targeted.

  “Do you think Beatrix has located our foe yet?” Talon asked, still keeping her eyes on the road ahead of them.

  Beatrix was using a scrying stone to search for the assassin while also tracking their progress. If Beatrix detected anyone suspicious, she had agreed to use magic to give Jan and Talon the signal.

  “I haven’t noticed any magical fire shooting into the sky or any other arcane phenomenon,” Jan said.

  “I trust Beatrix,” Talon said. “It’s just that I prefer not to be swept away by a tempest of arcane power.”

  Jan laughed. Beatrix had mentioned unleashing a whirlwind of magical energy to protect Jan and Talon from the assassin if the need arose. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m sure Beatrix will give us some warning before employing any dangerous magic.”

  As they neared the shipyard, traffic on the streets lessened. In spite of the increasing quiet, Jan noticed that the malicious presence she sensed became greater.

  “Be ready,” she said to Talon. “I don’t think we will have to wait much longer.”

  There was no need to warn Talon. Although she appeared outwardly calm, Jan could tell she was already in battle mode. Jan struggled not to take hold of the sword she wore at her belt. Rhys had suggested she better arm herself in case the need to fight should arise. Jan was glad she took his advice, but if the assassin managed to get through both Talon and Beatrix’s magical defense, she doubted there was little she could do.

  “Rhys isn’t far away,” Jan comforted herself aloud. “If anything goes awry, he will be here to provide backup.” Before Jan could say another word, she heard a high-pitched whining, a sound so faint she would have failed to hear it in the noisier part of town.

  “Get down!” Talon pushed Jan roughly aside a mere second before an arrow went whizzing past her head. Jan saw the arrow, so close she could feel the wind from it on her face as it passed. The arrow hit the building behind Jan with a loud thud.

  Jan held tightly to Talon as she stared at the arrow. A second later and it would have been lodged in her head instead of the wooden plank. Talon had saved her life, again.

  The assassin used the few seconds it took for Talon and Jan to dodge the arrow to his advantage. The shadowy figure moved with more purpose and determination than Jan had ever seen as it raced toward them across the open ground. Light from the rising moon glinted off something in the assassin’s hand. It took Jan only a second to realize it was a dagger, long and cruelly curved. The assassin wasted no time with Talon, aiming the sharp blade right at Jan’s heart. Talon was fast, insinuating herself between Jan and the assassin. She parried the dagger with one swift stroke, leaving the assassin open for a brief moment.

  Jan drew her sword. She stood to the side, not wanting to get in Talon’s way as she battled the assassin, but not wanting to feel defenseless, either. The weight of the sword in her hand was reassuring, even if she was not the swordswoman that Talon was.

  After only a few minutes, Rhys arrived to provide reinforcements. He flanked the assassin, cutting off a means to escape as Talon continued her frontal assault. A sphere of glowing light appeared in the darkness behind Jan, and a few seconds later Beatrix materialized, carrying the crystal. She wasted no time and began casting a spell that would bolster Talon’s defenses. A shield of light appeared around Talon, the energy within providing healing and a soothing serenity to calm her.

  The assassin, weary from the battle with the newly invigorated Talon, obviously had no intention of completing the job with so many to bear witness. The assassin attempted to use the same smoke screen maneuver from their encounter in the dungeon and slip away from the trap unhindered, but Jan and her companions weren’t about to fall for the same trick twice.

  “Now, Beatrix,” Jan said.

  Beatrix raised her staff to the sky and began chanting arcane words. A gust of wind blew through the shipyard, dissipating the smoke and leaving the assassin exposed. The assassin froze, unsure of what to do next. Rhys and Talon moved to apprehend the assassin, but their enemy was not ready to give in without a fight yet. With a flick of the wrist, the assassin produced a dagger, which he then sent sailing toward Talon’s head. Talon easily avoided the attack, sidestepping the dagger and continuing her advance toward the assassin.

  There was a brief scuffle in which Jan could not track the assassin’s movements. Talon was unrelenting, keeping the assassin on the defensive as she drove him back toward the shipyard. One of Talon’s swords made contact as the assassin leapt away, slicing into his left thigh. The assassin’s movements were slowed due to the injury, yet that did nothing to weaken his resolve. Another dagger went sailing past Talon, only this one was not intended for Talon in the first place. The dagger lodged in a ship that was in for repairs, only a few scant inches above Jan’s head. Jan let out a startled cry as she looked at the lethally sharp blade, causing everyone to pause in battle and turn her way.

  “Are you injured, Grand Arbiter?” Rhys called.

  “N-no,” Jan stammered. “I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and realized the truth in her words and said, with more confidence, “I am fine. The dagger missed me, if only by a handbreadth.”

  There was a collective sigh of relief as Talon, Rhys, and Beatrix confirmed that Jan was actually unharmed. Despite the fact that the exchange took only a few seconds, the assassin made use of that time and escaped while his foes were distracted.

  “Where is the assassin?” Talon demanded of the darkness where the assassin had been only a few short seconds before.

  Rhys shared in Talon’s frustration. “Damn! He gave us the slip again. Just when I was sure we had him this time.”

  “Let us not forget what really matters,” Beatrix interjected. “The Grand Arbiter is safe. None of us were seriously hurt, either. And Talon managed to get in a few good swings of her sword before the assassin escaped. He or she is injured, which means that if the assassin is one of our own, we will know what to look for.”

  “The person will have a large gash on the left thigh,” Rhys said. “Such an injury will be difficult to hide, even beneath multiple layers of clothing.”

  “There is also the chance the traitor will not dare show his face in front of the Arbiters again,” Talon pointed out.

  “Either way,” Jan said, “we will know if the assassin is one of our allies. All we have to do is wait to see who is injured or who doesn’t show when it comes time to set sail for Astraeyu Nouvi.” It all sounded so simple, but Jan knew that as long as the assassin was at large, their hunt for the Coruscalli was going to be anything but easy.

  Chapter Twenty-two
r />   THE GILDED LADY reached the southwestern shore of Astraeyu Nouvi without incident. Talon knew Larai would honor her word and deliver the Arbiters safely to Astraeyu Nouvi. She was, after all, an informant to Astraeyu’s Will. Without Larai’s help, the Heart would not have been aware of the Coruscalli’s recent activities in the Labyrinthine Archipelago. Larai was often called upon by Astraeyu’s Will for her skills, particularly for her ability to sail the Harrowing Sea. Larai’s name was so well known that other pirates would see her flag and try to avoid confrontation, if at all possible. This made Larai a popular choice for Astraeyu’s Talons and Eyes wishing to travel to the Four Kingdoms.

  Larai ordered the Gilded Lady to remain hidden in a secluded cove as her passengers departed for land.

  “I apologize for the inconvenience,” Larai said as Talon, Jan, Rhys, and Beatrix waited to board a life boat. “My reputation precedes me, as usual. I can’t be seen docking at any of the major ports. Astraeyu’s Will is kind to me, but it will never make its alliance with a pirate public. So it’s best if I stay out of sight as much as possible.”

  “It’s no inconvenience at all,” Jan said. “In fact, you’ve been more helpful than most by bringing us all the way to the shores of Astraeyu Nouvi. I want to thank you again for your hospitality.”

  Talon smiled. At first, Jan was hesitant about trusting their lives to a pirate, which was completely understandable. So many were out to permanently silence Jan Sterling, so why should she trust a pirate, of all people? During their travels together, Jan had become fond of Larai’s company. Talon would not be surprised to learn that Jan regarded Larai as a friend of the Arbiters.

  “No thanks are necessary,” Larai said. “Any friend of the Black Talon is a friend of mine. One other thing,” she added as her crew prepared the life boats for their departure. “I sent word of your arrival by messenger bird to the nearest settlement. When you make landfall, you should find fresh supplies waiting for you, including a team of Garunti to help ease the burden of travel.”