“What happened?” Zachary asked after everyone had time to take a few bites.
“Humans with drugs in Lix,” Kallish said, surprising Arrow by answering first, in halting common tongue. “Drugs fired from guns. Took the mage, then me.” She was clearly still disgusted with herself.
“The kidnappers were from the Two Snakes gang in Hallveran. According to what they said, and what we learned in Hallveran, they were paid to abduct me. We managed to escape before we reached the gang’s headquarters, but we were pursued.” Arrow finished with an odd sense of familiarity from years of delivering reports to the Taellan.
“And caused quite a scene on the Hallveran road.” The Prime’s growl was low.
“They fired first,” Kallish answered flatly. “Take or kill not sure.”
“We escaped in Hallveran, Prime. Regrettably the Erith safe house was destroyed. They chased us from there.”
“One of the Erith safe houses, you mean,” he snapped back. “Almost an entire city block according to the Hallveran muster.”
“No one was injured in the destruction,” Arrow countered, ignoring Kallish’s sharp look at the shifkin’s apparently intimate knowledge of Erith safe houses.
“And you decided to come here?” He was furious, but something in his manner caught Arrow’s attention. Not necessarily angry at her. Angry at the violation of his territory, perhaps. Something easily understood.
“We thought to escape our pursuers by crossing into shifkin lands,” Arrow agreed, abandoning all pretence of eating and settling back, facing his anger. Her hands were shaking so she folded them on her lap, out of sight under the table. She could not do much about her racing heart or pale skin, or the tremor she could hear in her own voice. The bandages around her ribs restricted her breathing as she tried to calm herself. “I did not believe for one moment that we would be pursued past the shifkin nation’s borders.”
Zachary Farraway snarled, a feral sound, teeth bared, eyes glimmering.
“That they did pursue us speaks of desperation and foolishness,” Arrow continued, trying to keep his attention. For some reason she did not think he would harm her. Kallish was another matter. Arrow did not want the warrior harmed, feeling responsible for bringing her here. “And that they then used heavy weaponry within shifkin nation territory was …” She paused, trying to find the right words.
“Unbelievably stupid,” he finished for her, the predator gleaming in his eyes. “There are bodies outside,” he added, eyes flicking to Kallish, “and damage to the woodland. Are all accounted for?”
“Regrettably not. Kallish nuin Falsen estimated a half dozen pursued us beyond the tree line, and at least one escaped.”
“He could run fast enough through snow to escape an Erith warrior?” There was still a hard bite in the shifkin’s voice.
“Vehicle,” Kallish put in, common tongue heavily accented, “adapted for terrain.”
“So, he’s probably back in Hallveran?” Zachary’s eyes gleamed. He left the table to go to the telephone, making a call.
“Eat, young thing,” Thomshairaen prompted, nudging her arm, “you need to eat.”
“My thanks.” Arrow was proud that her hand did not shake too obviously as she picked up her utensil and took another few mouthfuls of stew.
Zachary settled back at the table a few moments later, mood improved.
“Justin says he has kept watch on the matter and will collect the escapee soon,” he told the table. Justin was the muster leader in Hallveran, Arrow knew, and closed her eyes briefly. The Two Snakes gang and the shifkin had studiously left each other alone, staying clear of each other’s business. That fragile balance was now utterly broken. She could not be sorry that the gang would soon be destroyed. There was no doubt that, however well-armed the human gang were, the shifkin were far more dangerous. She did feel a strong measure of guilt at the likely bloodshed which would occur.
“Why did the gang pursue you so far?” Thomshairaen asked, tilting his head. “That gang is powerful, yes, but mostly bullies content to push people around on their own patch. It makes no sense for them to chase you so far.”
“Fear,” Kallish stated.
“We are told that the gang leader, Charon, accepted a contract from someone who he is very afraid of,” Arrow expanded. She glanced out the window for a moment, seeing an apparently serene winter scene. “An old acquaintance in Hallveran told me so. Charon is afraid of his master, and the gang are afraid of Charon.” She glanced at the disabled collars, still on the table. “And Charon’s master had the means to create those. Explosive and magic together.”
The Prime took stock of the collars, seeming to understand what they were at once.
“More afraid of Charon than me?” Zachary asked, voice dangerously soft, eyes glinting.
“Foolish of them,” Arrow agreed, “but that is what appears the case.”
“Need make report,” Kallish prompted into the short silence, “return Taellaneth.”
“You do, yes,” Arrow said, earning a sharp glance from everyone at the table.
“The Preceptor and his team were still at the Hessman place when I left,” Zachary offered. “The whole place is crawling with White Guard. Matt is keeping an eye on things,” he told Arrow.
She nodded, heart sinking. The Preceptor was still hesitating, from that account, still investigating the underground place. And the ‘kin were focused on what the Erith were doing. Matt was Matthias Farraway, one of the Prime’s sons, and the primary enforcer for the shifkin nation, as formidable in his own way as an Erith warrior.
With the ‘kin and Erith watching each other, even with no open hostility, they were distracted. A perfect time for a strike against them. The food was heavy in her stomach. She had made no progress at all.
“What has occurred?” Thomshairaen asked, eyes keen.
“Svegraen, perhaps you would brief Thomas?” Zachary prompted, tone making it a request. Kallish inclined her head, a gesture of acceptance and respect. His eyes turned back to Arrow. “And I think we should talk.”
“Prime.” The sinking feeling in her stomach increased. She was not sure what he wanted to discuss but was certain it would not be pleasant.
CHAPTER SIX
Zachary stood up and held her coat for her, assisting her into it with impersonal courtesy, then escorted her out into the snow. She gasped as the cold air hit her lungs, gasped again at the pain that seared through her rib cage. Fumbling with the fastenings, she got the coat done up again, wishing strongly that she had her hat, gloves, and scarf, and perhaps another three layers of clothing. She had been too busy running in Hallveran to really notice the temperature. What had been adequate in Lix, with its more temperate climate, was wholly unsuitable for the wild of Farraway Mountain.
“We have Marianne’s killer but not the whole story,” Zachary said, catching her full attention. She waited a moment, standing still because it hurt her ribs less, but he did not go on.
“That is so, Prime.”
“And you have been noticeably absent these past few days,” he growled, pacing with tense, restless strides. Not just angry about the invasion of his lands, then. She remained still, careful to keep her voice even.
“The Taellan determined my exile.”
Whatever he had expected, it was not that. He moved to stand in front of her, eyes glowing with power, and held her gaze.
“Explain.”
“I am not sure that I can,” she said helplessly, fighting the stupid lump of hurt that threatened to overwhelm her again.
“You are no longer in the Taellan’s service?”
“That is so.”
“Whose service are you in?” he demanded, teeth bared.
“No one holds my service at present, Prime.”
That pleased him, a different gleam entering his eyes. He took a few paces away.
“So, you are a free agent.”
“Within reason. There are some secrets I may not betray, some truths I may not s
peak.” She gave him honesty and after a moment, words pulled out from some core-deep certainty she had not fully articulated before now, added quietly, “And I will not act against the Erith.”
“I expected nothing less.” His eyes gleamed again as he looked back at her. “Will the Erith look for you?”
Cold was seeping through the coat, her fingers going numb.
“I do not know,” she answered after a moment. “I believe that the Preceptor will have use for me.” A useful tool in the fight against the surjusi, a fight that was not done. The thought made her want to find a hiding place and stay there for a long time. The mere effort of standing was taking most of her energy, the healing provided by Thomas and the salve making little difference to the bruising and pain.
He watched her for a long moment, frowning. “Has he made contact?”
“Not as far as I am aware,” she answered, then had to move, walking slowly between the piles of junk. Her ribs ached, the faint scent of the salve soothing. Movement generated a small amount of warmth.
“And someone has tried to kidnap you. With all that has happened, do you think that a coincidence?”
“I do not know what to think. No one has tried to kidnap me before.” Her own temper was surfacing, prompted by pain, weariness and cold. Although Murphy had hinted that someone wanted her out of the way, she was reluctant to put too much faith in his information.
“What are you going to do now?”
She bit her lip against a hasty, angry reply and shook her head slightly, continuing to walk slowly. It would not be a good idea to snap at the Prime, but nor was it a good idea to back down from his question.
“I have not had time to consider the matter,” she said candidly. “Kallish needs to report back to the Taellaneth. Even knowing that Kallish is White Guard, they still pursued us and fired on us.”
“And through my territory,” he growled.
“Even so.”
“There are still answers to be found.” The growl was still there.
“That is so.” She shoved her hands into her pockets, wincing in discomfort, a fine trembling of cold taking her over. “I have been considering the various questions and what we know.” She took a breath, wincing at the stab of pain. “I should like to find the answers. I would like to examine the underground. However, that will depend on the Preceptor’s permission.”
“He does not have sole jurisdiction,” Zachary remarked. She looked across and a coil of unease threaded through her. He was looking thoughtful. He had some plan in mind. He smiled slightly when he caught her gaze. “I believe the Erith owe the shifkin nation a great deal of cooperation. I should like you to continue your enquiries.”
Arrow stopped, giving him her full attention, measuring the extent of his trust in her with that request. Despite the ache in her ribs, anticipation coursed through her, replacing the unease. Finding answers was what she wanted to do. There were too many mysteries still unsolved, and, unlike the Erith, the shifkin Prime seemed genuinely interested in the truth of the matter.
“Why?” she asked bluntly, too cold and sore for diplomacy.
“My kin are dead,” he told her, white teeth flashing in a brief snarl. Not just Marianne, she remembered. Another ‘kin had died on the mountain. His power coiled out, carrying his anger and grief. Unfaithful she may have been, but he had been close to Marianne and cared about his people. He was not done. “Some of my kin hold the Erith responsible. There’s too much bad feeling there. They need answers.”
Arrow shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cold. The ‘kin were angry and grieving and had a long history of battling the Erith. The Prime was telling her that some of his people were on the edge of violence. Violence that could start another war between ‘kin and Erith. She clamped her jaw shut a moment to stop her teeth chattering.
“There may be unpleasant discoveries ahead, Prime. Everything so far indicates that human magic users have been working with a rogue Erith magician,” she reminded him, “and nothing so far points to any shifkin involvement but ...” She stopped, unwilling to finish the sentence. By the flicker in the Prime’s eyes she saw he had already anticipated the possibility, however remote, that his people were involved.
“I want answers,” he said at once, jaw tense, “however unpleasant they may be.”
“I should be happy to pursue more answers, Prime.”
He smiled, face lit with unexpected warmth.
“What is it?”
“You did not ask for payment for your services.” He was amused, she saw, not offended, and further amused at her surprise.
“I …” To her annoyance heat surged across her face, tips of her ears burning. “It did not occur to me.” Now he had mentioned it she was irritated anew. She would need resources to continue her enquiries, some of them expensive. And beyond that, she hoped to have a life of her own, now in the human world. The human world depended on money.
“I know. We can discuss this another time.” He nodded back to the cabin. “For now, I need to speak with the muster. The perimeter is clear. Go back inside for the moment.”
Glancing around, Arrow saw a group of ‘kin approaching through the trees, heritage clear from their speed and grace. Probably summoned by the breach of their borders. They were relaxed, despite the evident weaponry, and she guessed they had been patrolling the area, making sure all the intruders were gone. Except for her and Kallish. She shivered again, not from cold.
“The Erith vehicle we used to get here is further down the slope, on its side. It is still covered in wards.”
He waved her inside and she followed his wish.
˜
Inside the cabin the atmosphere was tense enough that she remained standing, moving to a point where she could see all the doors and keep her back to a solid part of the wall, unfastening the coat and letting warmth creep in with some relief. Thomshairaen was busy with various tasks around the cabin and Kallish had appropriated the table to lay out and catalogue the weaponry she had with her. They were carefully not looking at each other.
“There are shifkin outside,” Kallish remarked, glancing up from the gun she was checking.
“Members of the muster, I believe. The Prime is speaking with them.”
“Will we be given passage to the Taellaneth?”
“The Prime will not hold you against your will, young warrior.” Thomshairaen came back into the main room.
“That was not the question, old man,” Kallish snapped back.
“I will not be returning to the Taellaneth,” Arrow said, before either warrior could speak. That broke through some of the tension as both stilled, turning to her.
“Your assignment takes you elsewhere?” Kallish asked, frowning.
Arrow’s reply was cut off by the door opening and Zachary returning.
“Your vehicle seems to be in reasonable order, and may run,” he told Arrow. “The muster will return it to the road for you to test, if you can disable the wards.”
“Yes, of course.”
“How?” Kallish asked.
“We’ll lift it,” Zachary said.
“This, I would see.” Kallish swiftly gathered her weapons and rose, collecting the two collars as she moved.
“Thomas, your hospitality is appreciated.” Zachary moved across the room and shook hands with the Erith. With the Prime’s irritation of gun fire on his lands faded, it was clear to Arrow that the two were old, familiar friends. The son of one of the Erith’s oldest Houses had found a place here, not just outside the Erith borders but within shifkin territory. The possibilities she had imagined for herself expanded a little more.
“Good hunting.” The older warrior nodded to Kallish, who returned the gesture with the barest inclination of her head.
Thomshairaen turned to Arrow, still standing with her back to the wall. “Young thing, if you have the chance, I would welcome your company again. Your grandfather was an exceptional man and a good friend.”
“Thank you, sveg
raen,” she stammered, heart skipping in surprise. No one within the Taellaneth would speak of her heritage and she had a lifetime of curiosity stored up, only fuelled by the limited information she did have. The quiet offer, sincerely made, touched a raw place deep inside. She blinked to clear her eyes.
“Her grandfather?” Zachary prompted. The warrior smiled slightly.
“You knew him, too. The Erith’s most powerful mage. Well, until now.” Thomshairaen smiled at Arrow. “You have something of the look of him and I do not think you are into your full power yet, young thing.” A low, impatient sound from Zachary drew a gleam of a smile from the warrior, not in the least intimidated, before he answered the Prime’s question. “Serran vo Liathius.”
There was a short, charged silence in the room. Kallish drew an audible breath, outrage crossing her face. Zachary lifted his brows, eyes turning to Arrow. Arrow could feel the colour draining from her face, eyes stinging. She put a hand on the wall behind her to hold herself upright, whole body trembling. No one spoke of her lineage. And although she had known who her grandfather was, the words spoken aloud were powerful.
“The Erith’s greatest mage was your grandfather?” Zachary was too close, crowding her into the wall, shock and some anger in his voice. “And you did not think that worth mentioning?”
“I am forbidden to speak of my heritage.” Her voice was shaking, lips stiff, her breath too quick, sharp pains crossing her bandaged ribs. “My lineage has been struck.”
“Not good enough.” The Prime’s voice was a low growl, still crowding her against the wall. She could smell the fresh, clean scent of shifkin, the bitter taint of his anger a physical force holding her still.
“Zachary.” Thomshairaen was abruptly there, easy good humour vanished. “She is wounded, and you are in my cabin.”
The ‘kin snarled, teeth flashing, before he took a small, deliberate step back, eyes returning to Arrow’s face.
“Are there more secrets?” he growled.
“Many more, which I am not able to tell you,” she reminded him, holding his eyes with effort. Every part of her hurt.
Revealed: The Taellaneth - Book 2 Page 8