The Kinshield Legacy

by K. C. May

  “Where would I go? You hold my sister’s life in your hands.”

  “You still have the map to Tyr’s farmhouse near Calsojourn. Did you not consider that she might be there, waiting for your gallant rescue?”

  Except for the tiniest tic under his right eye, Domach’s expression did not change. “I hadn’t considered that,” he said. His voice was strained, uneasy.

  “Well, give the map to me, then.”

  Domach cleared his throat. “I’m afraid it has been lost.”

  “Lost?” Brodas asked, feigning surprise. “How could that have happened?”

  Domach shrugged.

  The man was too honest for his own good. Brodas reached for the blacksmith’s sword. “Let’s see if we can find out where it went.”

  Domach shifted forward as if to stand.

  “Stay there,” Brodas said in a patient voice. “I’m not going to hurt you. Just relax. I want to know what happened to that map.” He focused on the gem in the sword’s pommel. Sola Spekken.

  Domach gritted his teeth. A growl erupted from his throat and smoothed into words. “Ghaaaii... I gave it— No!”

  “Tell me,” Brodas prompted in a soft voice. He pushed harder toward the gem. When he expected his temples to ache, he felt the cool depth of the gems in the sword inviting him to unleash still more of his power. Oh, this was delicious.

  Domach’s hands, balled into fists, trembled. “Gavin Kinshield,” he said in a quivering voice.

  Kinshield! Brodas narrowed his eyes. He thought that stupid bastard had learned his lesson years ago. “I told you not to leave the grounds,” Brodas said. “When did you give it to him?”

  Domach shook for a moment, clenching his teeth. “Two… evenings… ago.”

  Now, this was an interesting turn of events. Domach had given the map to Gavin before he knew that Brodas was holding his sister. He must have thought someone else was there. Could Gavin be looking for Risan?

  Brodas gasped. Could it be? Gavin solving the...? No. The notion was absurd. Gavin Kinshield was a bloody boor. Then Brodas remembered the girl’s description of the rune solver: a tall dark-haired battler with a scar, traveling with the Lordover Tern’s estranged daughter. By the gods!

  Of course, Brawna hadn’t actually witnessed Kinshield solving the rune. The swordswoman could have solved them. She was high-born, educated, cultured. The fact that she’d run away from her life as the lordover’s heiress to join the Viragon Sisterhood proved that not only did she have quite a strong rebellious streak, she was capable of independent thought. And she, too, would have an interest in a new sword. Still, he didn’t think a woman could possess the intellect required to understand the Runes of Carthis.

  “Was he alone?” Brodas asked. He heard the desperation in his voice and ignored it, pushing harder toward the gem.

  Domach cried out. “No! He was... with a... swordswoman. Daia Saberheart,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “I see,” Brodas said, nodding. That confirmed it. Saberheart must have found the rune solver and was helping him search for Stronghammer and the sword. Brodas relaxed his hold over Domach and turned around to set the sword back on his desk.

  Kinshield and Saberheart probably considered Domach an ally. If they found out that he’d given away their secret, he would no longer be of much use to them -- or to Brodas. Brodas considered making an ally out of Domach as he had with Lilalian and instructing him to mislead Kinshield, but decided against it. If Domach seemed insincere in his desire to help Kinshield and Saberheart, they might be alerted to the influence of magic. Brodas needed Domach’s help without Domach’s knowledge. And he knew just how he would get it.

  “You gave your friends the map and asked them to rescue your sister, didn’t you?” Brodas asked in an accusatory tone as he turned around.

  Domach snapped his eyes up with a confused expression.

  Take the bait, Domach.

  Domach lifted his chin and set his mouth. “Yes, I did. Daia told me what happened to Brawna and I knew you would send her there. Brawna’s safe from you by now.”

  Good. Domach’s loyalty extended to Kinshield and Saberheart. “Well, it’s a moot point now,“ Brodas said, waving his hand. ”What I brought you here to tell you, Domach, was that you could go and retrieve your sister. But since she’s already safe from me, as you say, you’re free to leave.”

  Domach blinked. His jaw dropped. “You aren’t serious.”

  “Of course. Despite what you might think of me, I did not intend to harm her. I just needed her to ensure your cooperation for a time. But I have what I want now, so you are released from your obligation to me.”

  Domach stood. “But... you don’t know who Stronghammer made the sword for.”

  “That no longer matters. As I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, the gems in this sword are the Rune Stones. The man solving the runes has been keeping his identity secret for a reason: he’s unfit to rule as king and he knows it. It has been my hope that once we met, he would recognize how well-suited I am for being king, and willingly reveal the secret of the final rune to me. But with the spiritual guidance of Asti-nayas...“ Brodas paused to make a subservient gesture. ”...and Crigoth Sevae’s journal, I’ve discovered how to remove the King’s Blood-stone from the tablet using the power of the gems in this sword. So, I no longer need the rune solver. As soon as Warrick returns from Calsojourn, we will travel to the cave, and I will claim the King’s Blood-stone and my rightful place on the throne of Thendylath.” He hoped Warrick wouldn’t waltz into the room right then. Domach would need some time to warn his friends once they returned from Tyr’s farmhouse. And if all went well, Tyr and Toren would be dead, unable to speak out against Brodas or present evidence of his involvement in any of their illicit activities.

  Domach backed toward the door. “You don’t need the blacksmith further. Let me take him home.”

  Brodas picked up the sword and turned it in his hands. He did not intend to free Stronghammer. The blacksmith was his insurance, at least until he had the King’s Blood-stone in hand. “You are free to leave, but Risan has placed an enchantment on this sword, and I need to learn what it is. You need not be concerned for him, Domach. Once I have the King’s Blood-stone, he’ll tell me what I want to know, and I will send him home to his wife.”

  Domach turned and ran. Brodas cringed when the back door slammed, but he smiled in spite of his annoyance. If Domach was the sort of man Brodas thought he was, he would go straight to his friends with this concocted story.

  Brodas went into the corridor and called for Warrick. After a moment, he heard heavy footsteps descending the stairs, and his cousin came around the corner.

  “What is it?” Warrick asked. Another pair of footsteps padded down the steps, lighter.

  “I need you to keep an eye on Demonshredder. Secretly. He believes you to be in Calsojourn, so don’t let him see you.”

  Lilalian came up behind Warrick, tucking her hair back into her braid.

  “Brodas, now’s not a good time,” Warrick said.

  “There will be plenty of time for celebration later,” Brodas said. He tried not to sound too annoyed. He did not care what Warrick did to Lilalian or any other woman, but Warrick shouldn’t waste time satisfying his base desires while the King’s Blood-stone was still in the tablet. “Lilalian, I need you to send some of your women to the cave and have them to wait there, hidden from eyes and ears.”

  “How many do you need?” she asked.

  “A dozen, perhaps two. In fact, send them on foot so their horses don’t give them away.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Lilalian replied. “I will select and lead them myself.”

  “Brodas, what’s going on?” Warrick asked.

  “Domach knows who our mysterious rune solver is.”

  “Where’s the cur?” Warrick demanded. “I’ll get the name out of him.”

  “Calm yourself, Warrick,” Brodas said. “I’ve released him from our employ. He’s at the stable saddlin
g his horse now.”

  “You’ve done what? Brodas have you gone mad?”

  “Do I not always get what I want?”

  Warrick’s shoulders began to relax as a smile spread over his face. “You never fail.”

  “Keep a constant watch on Demonshredder. When he meets Gavin Kinshield—“

  “Kinshield,” Warrick said. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Warrick, listen to me. When you see Domach meet with Kinshield, follow them until they leave town. Then come and get me. Kinshield and his companions will be off to the cave to solve the final rune. We’ll time our arrival perfectly.”

  Chapter 53

  “I want to come with you,” Brawna said late the next morning. She’d slept well past sunrise and expected Daia and Gavin to have already left, but they, too, had only just arisen. The four of them sat at the dining table to break their fast. “I’ve rested, I’ve eaten and I’m healed. I can’t do any good staying here.” She chewed her lip and looked around the dining table at her companions, hoping to find an ally among them.

  “You lost a lot of blood yesterday,” Daia said, pushing her plate away. “You need to rest and recover. Take another helping of meat.”

  “I’m not a child, and I’m not a delicate noble girl who faints at the sight of…” Brawna stopped, feeling her cheeks burn. “I’m sorry, Daia. I didn’t mean--”

  “Forget it. Look, Brawna, you have no mount, no weapon, and I don’t see how Gavin could battle effectively with you hanging onto his waist.”

  Brawna hung her head. It was true. Her horse was at the Sisterhood, and besides, Tripsa was no longer her horse. Brawna had nothing but the clothes she was wearing, and they weren’t even hers.

  “I think I saw an extra horse in the stable,” Edan said. “And you can use one of my swords. I prefer a bow anyway.”

  Brawna snapped her eyes up to his. “Do you mean it?”

  “The way I see it is,” Edan said, “we’re going into the lair of a powerful foe. With a nickname like Brawna the Blade, we can’t afford to leave you behind.”

  She broke into a wide smile and bounced in her chair. Her first mission hadn’t given her a chance to test her skills. This was why she’d joined the Sisterhood.

  “Yeh,” Gavin said. “I agree.”

  Brawna looked at him. He flashed her a smile. Her heart fluttered, and she smiled back.

  “She’s too weak and inexperienced,” Daia said. “She’ll die.”

  “If we go against Ravenkind, we’ll prob’ly all die,” Gavin said, his smile fading.

  “He killed Aminda and has Lilalian and Cirang under his control,” Brawna said. “You need every sword you can get.”

  “He’s the one who killed Aminda?” Daia asked. “How do you know that?”

  “Lilalian went with Aminda to his home for supper, but only Lilalian came back alive. She said Aminda had choked to death, but some of us didn’t believe it. I saw them as they were leaving. When Lilalian returned with Aminda’s body later that evening, both of them were wearing different clothes and Aminda’s hair was damp, like they’d washed it. Then I noticed that Lilalian had started wearing a necklace.”

  Daia drew back, gaping. “Jewelry?”

  “Yes. And now Cirang wears one too, and so do some of the other girls — the ones that Lilalian and Cirang consider the most loyal. Cirang said Ravenkind’s giving them to all the Sisters.”

  Daia regarded Brawna under a deep scowl. She turned to Gavin. “We should go after Ravenkind. We can avenge Aminda and pry his hand from the throat of the Sisterhood.”

  His eyes bore into Daia. Brawna squirmed in her chair, thankful that dark gaze wasn’t directed at her. “I told you what he did to my family. Do you think I’d risk more lives to satisfy your lust for vengeance? It’s risky enough just trying to save Risan.”

  “You were just one man,” Daia said. “We have four.”

  Four. Brawna smiled. Daia shot her a glance and winked.

  “And he has the entire Viragon Sisterhood standing afore him,” Gavin said. “When we strike one down, he’ll heal her and set her on us again.”

  “We have only two options,” Daia said. “We can try to save Risan, and probably have to confront Ravenkind, or we can go to the cave, remove the reasons for him to hold Risan, and hope that’s enough.”

  Gavin cast his eyes down. Brawna had the sudden urge to reach out and stroke his hair. He looked so sad. So defeated.

  Well, he needn’t feel alone in this. She would be there beside him, battling to the death if need be. Fighting for the king.

  They timed their arrival in Sohan for evening to give them a cover of darkness. About a mile west of the city, they stopped to work out their plan.

  “Edan and I’ll ride into town from the west and try to find Demonshredder,” Gavin said. “He might know if Risan’s still alive and where Ravenkind’s holding him. None o’the Sisters know our faces. We’re safe, but you two ain’t. Circle around the city and enter from the east. Get us some rooms at the inn closest to the city gate. We need to rest. We can go to the cave in the morning, hopefully with a better understanding o’things.”

  Daia nodded. “All right. The Harper Lodge is the one we want.”

  “We’ll find you there. Then we can decide our next step.”

  Daia and Brawna started away. Edan held out a hand, and as Daia passed him, she took it. As their horses drew them apart, they reached toward each other, holding contact for as long as they could. Gavin shivered, feeling suddenly chilled.

  “Hey,” Edan said.

  Gavin turned his gaze from Daia’s back and in the glow of the moon, found understanding in his friend’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  Gavin shrugged. “She makes her own choices.” He nudged Golam to a trot.

  The dust on the streets had settled into place for the night. Cressets burned along the main thoroughfares, now quiet and empty.

  Gavin and Edan dismounted and led their horses by the reins, working the stiffness from their legs and backs. “That tavern up ahead – that’s the one.”

  “Can we trust him?” Edan asked.

  Gavin nodded. “He ain’t a bad buck. Gave us the map to find Stronghammer, only we found Brawna instead. Brawna’s his sister. When he finds out what Ravenkind and Tyr did to her, he’ll be with us.”

  They tethered their horses to the hitching post and went inside.

  The interior of the tavern was full of men hoisting tankards, belching, laughing and telling tales. The only women were the harried bar maids staggering under trays loaded with food and drink. The smell of sweat and hops welcomed them. Gavin stood in the doorway and scanned the room, checking every face. He looked for Domach, but also for Brodas’s cousin.

  Domach stood and started toward him. His face was drawn, worried.

  Gavin turned and went outside. The three men stood in the street, away from buildings where eavesdroppers might hide.

  “Did you find Brawna?” Domach asked.

  “We did. Tyr was using her as a practice dummy, but she’s awright now,” Gavin said. “You knew he had her?”

  “I found out yesterday. After I gave you the map, I went to Ravenkind’s like you told me to. A blacksmith was there – a Farthan by the name of Stronghammer.” Domach hung his head. “Ravenkind made me…” His voice trailed off and Gavin couldn’t hear what he’d said.

  “What?” Gavin asked.

  “Is he alive?” Edan asked.

  Domach nodded. “He’s alive. For now. Ravenkind wanted to know who Stronghammer made the sword for, but the blacksmith wouldn’t say. Ravenkind made me beat it out of him, but Stronghammer’s a stubborn fool. He held his tongue.” Domach looked at Gavin and ducked his head in a slight bow. “Knowing that you were looking for a kidnapped friend, I reasoned it out -- my liege.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Gavin spat.

  “Sorry. Listen, Ravenkind says he no longer cares who solved the runes. He says he can get th
e King’s Blood-stone without you.”

  “What?” Gavin shouted. His hands closed into fists.

  “With the gems in the sword Stronghammer made, he can get the King’s Blood-stone out of the tablet. He has Crigoth Sevae’s journal.”

  “Damn it,” Gavin said, he spun around, unsure what to do. They had to go now. Tonight. They had to get the King’s Blood-stone before Brodas did. He started toward the horses. “Is he on his way to the cave?”

  “He hasn’t left yet,” Domach said as he and Edan joined Gavin. “He’s waiting for Warrick to return from Calsojourn.”

  “Ah, hell,” Gavin clenched his teeth and fists. They had a good chance to get to the cave first. But without Warrick, Brodas would be more vulnerable to an attack. “Say, what about sneaking into Ravenkind’s house?” he asked. “Kill him while he sleeps?”

  Domach put on a doubtful expression. “He’s keeping a troop of Viragon Sisters around him. We’d have to kill them first. The noise would wake him.”

  “Damn,” Gavin muttered. “Get your horse and gear, Demonshredder, and meet us at the Harper Lodge.”

  Edan offered his hand to Domach. “Edan Dawnpiper,” he said.

  “Domach Demonshredder. I’ve got your back.”

  “Never mind my back. Watch his,” Edan said, nodding at Gavin. “He’s our new king.”

  As Daia and Brawna rode around the periphery of the city, they kept eyes and ears open to any sign indicating they’d been recognized. Any Sister they spotted had to be considered an enemy.

  When they reached the eastern gate of the city, they rode at a trot toward the Harper Lodge. A trio of swordswomen walked through the street ahead. Daia put her hand out, calling silently for Brawna to stop. The women walked on, apparently not seeing the two former Sisters.

  Daia and Brawna found the Harper Lodge, a small building with termite-eaten eaves, and gave the stable hand two pielars each to tend their horses.

  “How come you ain’t stayin’ at the Sisterhood fort,” he asked them.