by Dave Skinner
“Since Singh’s death, we—”
“Singh’s murder ye mean,” one of the captains shouted.
Cracker missed who the loud mouth was, but before anyone else could interrupt again he held up a fist and shouted, “Batten your holes or I stuff em with this. Vee be talking.”
“As I be saying, since Singh’s passing, some of ye has drifted off on your own, as ye had every right to do, but what has it gotten ye? Fat Aras lost his ship and his life. Black Wila was taken at Little Point when she tried to unload the cargo she had just captured. Most of us have been plagued by problems we never had when we were all together. When —”
“When Singh was leader.” Cracker saw who the loud mouth was this time. It was the younger Danber brother.
“When we was strong enough to be feared,” Vee finished.
“And whose fault is it that we’s no longer strong?” the other Danber shouted.
“The fault was too many wanted to be leader. I include meself in that group. We argued and went our separate ways, but we are here today to fix our problem. If we ever want to be a force on the lakes again, we have to come together under one leader.”
“I nominate me brother,” the younger Danber announced.
“I nominate Vee,” one of his supporters countered.
Cracker looked around the circle of men standing on the hard sand of the beach. No one else spoke. Vee had been right; the Danber brothers were the ring leaders.
“Two nominations, how do we decide?” someone asked on cue.
“Show of hands,” Cracker called like he had been told to, and just as Vee had said he would, the younger Danber called for trial by combat. The Danbers knew that Vee’s faction was larger. They also considered themselves to be better swordsmen. The rumour going around that Vee’s shoulder was injured, and the fact that he seemed to favour his right arm helped to still any uncertainty they might have felt regarding Vee’s Nadian swords.
“Combat! Combat! Combat!” the Danber supporters were chanting.
Vee looked around the circle as he rubbed at his shoulder. The chanting grew stronger. All the men were chanting now.
“Okay. Combat it be,” Vee agreed.
The circle of men widened as the two fighters started to remove coats and shirts. Needles, always looking to make some money, started taking bets. As soon as Vee removed his shirt and the bandaged shoulder became apparent, more of the Danber faction started shouting their bets. Needles naturally ended up among them as the contest began. He slipped over behind the younger Danber.
Both men used two swords. Danber’s were clearly expensive weapons created by a master craftsman. They shone silver in the sunlight. Cracker had noticed the jeweled handles before the fight began. He intended to have one before the day was finished.
Vee’s swords, on the other hand, did not look expensive. There were no jewels on the hilts and the blades looked grey instead of silver. An unknowledgeable person would assume they were cheap, but all the swordsmen around the circle recognized them for what they were—Nadian blades … the best swords in their world.
The men circled each other, testing their footing on the sand. Danber made the opening move. Both of his swords beat at Vee’s defenses. The strokes were quick and sure. A man with two good shoulders would be hard pressed to defend against them, but that was exactly what Vee did.
The fighting was hard and fast. By the time both men were covered in sweat, it was obvious to everyone that Vee’s shoulder was uninjured. He moved easily without any signs of discomfort. Cracker saw the realization dawn on the younger brother’s face that they had been outmaneuvered. He watched him say something to one of his men who, moments later, passed him a small, loaded, crossbow.
The older Danber lost some of his confidence when he realized what Vee had done. Cracker saw it, and he assumed Vee did also because he went on the offensive immediately. Danber did manage to manipulate the fighting around until Vee’s back was available to his brother, but when nothing happened he looked even more worried until a quick combination by Vee penetrated his defense and his chest.
As Danber fell to his knees, he looked towards his brother. Cracker followed his gaze. Needles pulled his knife from the kid’s back, and dropped his dead body to the sand.
When the commotion ended, six of the Danber supporters were dead on the beach. Vee was pronounced leader.
Chapter 21
Baragarden picked up his pack and walked towards the whore house across the street. It had taken two months, but now he was ready.
“We are closed,” the black-bearded guard announced as the wizard pushed through the large doors. He confronted two guards in the foyer between the entrance doors and the inner doors. Baragarden stopped, waited and, just like the last time, the second guard stepped forward to back up the first. Baragarden cast the spell he had worked out over the past two months. Both men crumpled to the floor unconscious. He had argued with his inner voice about killing them instead of creating a spell to stun, but he had reasoned that energy required for the killing spell was not worth it. This night was going to take enough magical energy already without wasting any.
He put a locking spell on the entry door and proceeded into the main room where six women sat scattered about on chairs and couches. He could not use the same knockout spell here because it required the target to be wearing substantial metal. Not a problem with the guards, even though they only carried knives, but the women did not carry weapons. He reasoned that their few rings or chains would not be enough of a catalyst for the spell. He used the control spell. It had worked well before. Then he got to work on the design.
It took much longer than he thought it would. Despite the fact that he had drawn it many times before, he could not rush the work. He was almost finished when a seventh woman entered the room. He had to expend more energy on another spell to subdue her. When the design was finished, he chose the four largest women and had them remove their clothes to verify that they all bled. Satisfied, he tied them into position within the circles before he started the chant.
The spell went smoothly, without complications. He completed the last line, cut the last throat, turned, and spoke the word of power. He heard wailing from the blackness, then screaming. The noise ended. Something fell to the ground.
Another failure and father’s words ring true. You are incompetent.
“Shut up,” Baragarden ordered as he reached the bloody mess that had appeared. It had the same scaled covering, but it took a moment to identify it as part of a body. It looked as if the thing had been bent double and pulled backwards into the rift. He realized that most of the legs and the upper body had not made it through, as he used the sacrificial dagger to unfold it.
Suddenly the door to the foyer burst open and one of the guards charged into the room. He staggered with a dazed expression on his face as he crossed the floor and grabbed Baragarden in a bear hug. Even in his semi-conscious state the man was tremendously strong. Baragarden was terrified. His arms were crushed to his side, all breath was expelled from his body, his head started to spin.
The dagger, you fool. Use the dagger.
With desperation he slashed the dagger into the guard’s groin. For moments nothing changed, then the guard crumpled to the ground as copious amounts of his blood stained the front of his pants and Baragarden’s gown. The wizard could feel the energy in the blood. It was more than all four women together.
The scroll says warriors, you fool, not women, the voice scoffed before it started to laugh hysterically. The laughter continued while Baragarden packed his tools and made his way out into the street, not quieting until he was outside the city gates.
Chapter 22
“Do you have it?” Adamtay demanded as Nailmoe entered his suite.
“Of course I have it, a short walk through the palace to the chief wizard’s chambers and back. What could possibly have gone wrong? You have to relax, my friend.”
“How can I relax? My intended
is meeting my father and mother for the first time. What if they do not approve? My parents are … well, you know what they’re like. They are old fashioned. They can be offended by the smallest thing.”
“Relax, my friend. Mearisdeana will bewitch them just like she did you. You have nothing to worry about. Even I, your closest and oldest friend approve of your marriage, and this necklace will tell everyone how much she means to you. Are you going to tell her about the enchantment?”
“Yes. I must. We have no secrets, and if I ask her to wear it all the time like the ones given out to all the women she will figure out what it is. She is very perceptive. Did my uncle say anything about it?”
“The Court Wizard was less communicative than usual. The man has never liked me.”
“It may have something to do with you seducing his daughter.”
“He has no proof it was me. I was very discreet.”
“He is a powerful wizard, my friend. He has ways of learning the truth.”
“I need wine,” Nailmoe announced. “You?”
“No, I will wait for dinner.” Adamtay fussed before a full length looking glass, pulling his new grey doublet smooth and flicking the ruffles of his silk shirt. “I believe I am ready,” he announced.
“Then let us be off,” Nailmoe said. He swallowed the contents of his glass in one long gulp before walking over to open the door.
They made their way through the hallways of the palace without conversation. Nailmoe greeted the servants and court officials he knew while Adamtay remained isolated in his nervousness. Eventually they arrived at the apartments Mearisdeana and her family had been assigned. A young Lady in Waiting from the palace staff opened the door to Adamtay’s knock. She blushed when she saw Nailmoe. Adamtay’s bride-to-be was seated on a couch in the main room. Her parents were seated in chairs on either side of her like protective bookends. The Prince searched their faces for any hint of apprehension. He saw none.
Mearisdeana sprang up as he entered the room, her happiness lighting her face. Adamtay’s breath caught in his throat. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Her nightskin shone with a pale whiteness that contrasted with the deep blue of her floor-length gown. Besides the makeup on her eyes, cheeks, and lips, the only other colours evident about her person were the henna designs that adorned her head. They rose from behind both ears flowing gently up over her head in waves that joined in a peek just above her forehead. As she stepped forward to meet him, there were flashes of colour from the designs on her legs and feet as they were revealed by the slits in her gown. Catching those brief glimpses of leg tattoos was so stimulating that he almost groaned aloud. She stopped in front of him.
“Don’t touch me. I cannot meet your parents in a wrinkled dress.”
“You look magnificent.”
“I hope your parents approve.”
“I am positive they will,” he replied, trying to hide his apprehension behind bravado.
“Should we be on our way?” Mearisdeana asked.
“One small change is necessary.” He reached out and touched the crude medallion hanging from a cloth ribbon around her neck.
“Is the danger over? Have the rifts been stopped?” she asked excitedly.
“No, not yet, but a vision like you requires something that is not crudely cast.” Adamtay raised his hand to display the beautiful silver pendant hanging from it. “I had my uncle enchant this as a replacement.”
“Thank you, Adamtay! It is splendid!”
She reached up and removed the cruder medallion. “Please sir?” she said as she turned her back to him.
Adamtay settled the gift around her neck then bent forward and placed a kiss on each bare shoulder. “Now you are better than perfect,” he whispered. “Shall we go and dazzle the court?”
Adamtay pointed out palace features as they made their way to the ballroom where the reception was to take place. He identified the scenes depicted in the many tapestries that covered the cool stone walls, and named the other building and monuments seen through high windows, hoping his commentary would hide his nervousness. His mouth was dry when the herald announced them at the ballroom.
Although he had been in this room many times before, he tried to remember how it had appeared during the first ball he had attended, in an attempt to appreciate what Mearisdeana was experiencing. From the double doorway, three red-carpeted steps descended to the impressive black Argarien marble floor of the immense room. Not that Mearisdeana or anyone else would be able to appreciate the grandeur of the exotic marble because the floor was crowded with the country’s finest citizens. A garden of brightly coloured gowns covered the floor and the faces of all the flowers turned towards them as they moved into the room. He felt Mearisdeana’s hand tighten on his arm, but she did not falter. Ahead of them the flowers and their formally black-clad partners parted.
Adamtay led his group forward to where his parents stood. Mearisdeana performed a perfect curtsey, said all the correct things, and made all the correct responses.
“Welcome to our court,” King Terrintay said as Mearisdeana was presented.
“And welcome to our family,” Queen Saratay added. “Now, let me introduce my soon to be daughter-in-law to the court,” she finished as she tucked Mearisdeana’s hand in the crook of her arm and led her into the crowd.
The king touched hands with Mearisdeana’s parents. “Welcome,” he said. “Please join my wife for the introductions.”
Adamtay breathed a sigh of relief. His mother’s actions told everyone that Mearisdeana was accepted. He glanced at his father who must bless their union by announcing the wedding, if it was to proceed.
Terrintay indicated that Adamtay should follow him, and led him into a private anteroom off the ballroom. A footman closed the door after they passed leaving them enclosed among richly upholstered couches and chairs, all tastefully positioned to allow appreciation of the fine paintings, sculptures, and priceless antique vases the room held.
“She is a lovely woman, my son.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“I did not want to mar the reception, but there is something we have to consider. Another incident has occurred. A woman was killed this time. I will not ruin your engagement party with the gruesome details, but I must ask you this. Would it not be better to postpone the wedding ceremony until this problem is resolved? Having so many people in one place is courting trouble, in my opinion. Tonight is chancy enough, but an incident at the ceremony would be a terrible start to your married life.”
Adamtay considered his answer. He appreciated the wisdom being offered.
“I understand your concern, Father, but I love her too much to delay. Now that she is here, I cannot bear the thought of having to wait any longer than a week.”
His father shook his head. “The impatience of youth. So be it. I will announce the wedding as planned.”
Chapter 23
“Shawn!” Lee cried, as she charged out the door of the cabin and flung herself into his arms.
As he hugged her he saw his mother and Bray follow her out. His sister had put on weight, as well as height in the year he had been away. She was what, thirteen now? She was almost a woman, and he realized from the pressure of her arms around him, she was strong. His mother stepped off the porch to share an embrace. She might have a touch more grey in her hair, but basically she looked the same—thin, straight, and graceful. He greeted her with a long hug. There was a hint of moisture in her eyes when she pulled away.
“Shawn. It is so good to have you home.” She looked him over. “Are you hurt?”
“No, mother, all my injuries have healed.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Then have some dinner before you go to find Mara. I suppose that is high on your list,” she said as she led him up onto the porch where Bray waited.
Bray greeted him with a warm smile. “Welcome home, brother,” he said, as
they embraced affectionately.
“Waycan told me you are to leave on your manhood challenge in a few days. Best of luck, in case I am not around when you depart.”
“They won’t send you away again so soon, will they?” Lee asked.
“No, we will be home for a few months, but we may have to go on patrol. People have reported catching glimpses of a robed figure wandering around. If he continues to evade our patrols, Waycan wants us to join the search.”
They all sat at the table while Kat dished out bowls of a deliciously aromatic stew. Shawn’s mouth watered. He had been eating camp food for the last year. He had thought about his mother’s cooking almost as much as he had thought about Mara.
“Tell us about border patrol,” Kat suggested as she joined them at the table, lovingly laying her hands on his shoulders before sitting. “Have the Bearclaw incursions stopped?”
“Their concentrated attacks have been broken,” Shawn reported. “There are still some isolated groups who continue to fight, but they should be pushed back soon, even without Ran there to help.”
“Ran came back with you, then?” Bray asked.
“Yes, the commander felt that he should be away for a while. The others were counting on him to do too much of the fighting instead of doing their part.”
“Is that Ran’s interpretation of the conversation?”
“No, that is straight from the commander. I know you dislike Ran, but you have to admit he is a magnificent warrior. He won firsts in every event he entered at The Contests last year, even against men with twice the experience.”
“That is only because Bray was not there,” Lee offered.
Shawn laughed at his sister. “Perhaps, Lee, but I for one was glad to be in his squad. In battle, he saved Afra, Nefty, and me a number of times. Everyone in the camp referred to him as a hero.”
“He certainly looks the part,” Kat admitted. “I have never seen a better looking man. If I was ten years younger I would take a shot at him.”