by I K Spencer
Anthen's mouth was full and he finished chewing while deciding how to answer.
"I am undecided," Anthen replied in a monotone.
"Why ... are you undecided?" Cidrl frowned at the younger guardsman.
"Some signs support that theory. Some signs suggest the prisoner was aided." Anthen spoke slowly and kept his gaze shifting around the room, terrified that something in his manner would give him away.
"What signs support that theory?"
"The sentry killed in the cell. The other two dead guards obviously interrupted the prisoner's escape from the cell block." Anthen concentrated on answering the question literally without elaborating more details or offering an opinion, as he normally might.
"And what signs suggest she had help?" Cidrl prompted.
Cidrl already had thoughts that she had help and Anthen thought lying could only attract Cidrl's suspicion in his direction. "One of the two guards killed would surely have time to sound an alarm. The outer guards would have been alerted." Anthen paused before voicing his final clue, not wanting to state it in case the traitor hadn't made the same observation. Fear of raising doubt in his master won out. "There was no purpose in taking the time to bind the outer guard."
If the older guardsman learned anything new or if Anthen's manner aroused his suspicions in any way, his stony gaze did not give any indication. He said nothing throughout the rest of the meal. When the meal concluded, they returned to their chambers and the young guardsman was ordered to retire.
Anthen entered the dark room and, as instructed, lay down upon the bed. He waited several minutes, then rose noiselessly and crossed to the dressing room door. He knocked softly and announced himself then stepped inside, where a lone candle burned. Teya nodded but he saw immediately that something was wrong; her face was shiny with sweat and bright with fever.
Cursing softly, he pulled off her deerskin breeches and cut away the sodden bandages. Holding the candle close, he saw that the wounds were infected—swollen and oozing pus. He felt her hot forehead and whispered to her that he would take care of her. Her eyes flickered with recognition briefly, then seemed to lose focus.
He slipped from the dressing room momentarily and fetched his medicines, water, and a lamp. He lit the lamp and set a mug of water over the flame to warm. He then cleaned the wounds, which caused her to moan softly in pain. While the wounds dried he mixed a powder from his bag with water and applied the poultice. He made fresh bandages from the generous supply of table linens and wrapped the treated wounds. Relying upon his medical training from the academy, the young guardsman added medicines and herbs to the hot water in the mug before slowly feeding the concoction to the feverish woman. She fought him at first but he did manage to get most of the liquid down her throat.
Anthen spent much of the night at the woman's side. He bathed her forehead and neck and gave her water as she endured the high fever. She drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes not even recognizing him. His concern grew as the night passed and her delirium only intensified. Near dawn, Anthen dressed the wounds again and fed her another mug of the medicinal tea, this time adding more of the ingredient that helped her rest. His worst fear was that she would cry out in delirium during the day and alert someone passing by his chamber door.
He hoped that the traitor would have no use for him but he was called at the usual time and forced to spend the entire day away from his quarters. Cidrl spent most of the day following the investigation into the prisoner's escape but he also held a short conference with a Dolonarian official and Anthen guessed the meeting related to the older guardsman's real purpose here but Cidrl had not bothered to bring him close enough to catch a single word uttered by either man. The day passed slowly for Anthen, anxious to return to his quarters and check on the ill woman.
After the long, fruitless day of shadowing Cidrl, Anthen was dismissed to his room during the late afternoon. He found the feverish woman covered with sweat and moaning for someone named Harth. Fortunately, her cries were muffled, as though even in her delirium she knew the importance of remaining quiet. Anthen treated the wounds again, fed her medicine and some of the soup from his tray, then went to his bed to get a few hours of much-needed rest.
He roused himself shortly after sunset and nursed her through another long night. Her fever spiked around midnight and he was forced to cover her mouth with his hand, as her cries became loud enough to draw the guards. Her skin burned and the guardsman feared she might not survive the night but shortly before dawn the fever ebbed and she slept peacefully. He then changed her dressings and gave her more medicine before hurrying back to his bed just a few minutes before the old woman entered with his breakfast tray.
After lying there an hour waiting to be summoned, he heard the door open followed immediately by Cidrl's command to rise and eat his morning meal. The apprentice rose wearily and ate the cold meal standing in front of the tray, then stood waiting for his next order. A short time later, the door opened again and Cidrl told him to wash, shave and change to a fresh tunic. This was a directive he carried out eagerly. Generally careful about his appearance, Anthen was not too fond of walking around unshaved, unwashed, and in dirty clothes.
Cidrl appeared again a short time later and the two guardsmen, along with their Dolonarian escort, returned to the military wing of the palace, where Cidrl had lunched just a few days earlier. Anthen noted that Cidrl was dressed formally and that he seemed both excited and nervous, a change from the foul, quiet mood that had befallen the man since the escape.
They were led to a different chamber from their last visit, smaller and not nearly as impressive. There, Cidrl greeted a nervous young captain who had evidently taken over the case of the missing prisoner. From Cidrl's disrespectful treatment of the captain, Anthen guessed this visit was not the motive for the older guardsman's formal dress. The captain, dark-haired and thin for a Dolonarian, tried to assert his authority over the situation but his fear of the two guardsmen was obvious. He started to give the same assurances that the woman would be caught swiftly but Cidrl impatiently waved him to silence and ordered him to begin looking for those who aided the woman.
The captain had obviously not considered such a possibility and Cidrl went on to list the same reasons Anthen had voiced, for suspecting that prisoner's escape was assisted. Anthen saw a gleam in the young Dolonarian's eyes and guessed he saw the possibility of much greater value in uncovering a conspiracy than simply searching for a fugitive woman. Cidrl suggested he start by interrogating the two guards again as they probably lied to cover their incompetence. As they rose to leave, the captain eagerly promised results and Cidrl warned him that nothing less would be tolerated.
From the captain's chamber they proceeded to another room within the military section of the palace. This chamber was no less elegant than the room they had visited a few days earlier. As before, they were kept waiting and the uneasiness obvious in the traitor suggested it to be a meeting of great importance. Anthen prayed that he would not be left by the door as before, unable to hear the conversation.
A short time later, a door opened and a half-dozen Dolonarian officers stepped through. At the center of the group was a finely dressed, bald man, obviously the leader. He stood taller than any of the Dolonarians Anthen had seen and several medals adorned his perfectly tailored uniform. He conferred with another man as they walked past and Anthen thought the entourage might pass through the chamber without pausing but Cidrl rose stiffly and intercepted the party, Anthen following closely behind. Cidrl bowed and started to speak but the bald man gestured for him to be silent, not returning the bow. He clearly regarded Cidrl with contempt and, as was the case with most Dolonarians, ignored Anthen completely.
The bald officer conferred briefly with one of his aids, then turned to Cidrl. "Sufficient numbers have been amassed to set the timetable. How long will it take to achieve your objective?"
"A cycle of the moon should be sufficient once we depart."
"See tha
t it is," the Dolonarian replied crisply and started to walk away.
Cidrl started to reply but the bald man waved him away. "You are dismissed. One of my seconds will work out the details with you," he said without looking up at the tall guardsman as they walked away.
Cidrl bowed and Anthen could see the color rising in the traitor, the only sign of the fury surely boiling inside the man. Once the entourage departed through another door and they were left alone again, some of that anger escaped.
"Fool," Cidrl muttered to himself. "He does not realize that soon he will bow at my feet and beg my forgiveness for this insolence."
Anthen followed Cidrl from the chamber and back through the palace toward their rooms, where he was dismissed to eat his waiting lunch. He checked on the woman, who still slept peacefully, and found her fever completely abated. She shivered in her sleep and he covered her with an extra blanket. He would have liked to change her dressings but could not risk it until he was discharged for the night.
He ate a little of his noon meal, saving most for the recovering woman, then sat in a chair by the window, resting. He had slept only a few hours in the past two days and needed sleep but knew that Cidrl might barge in at any moment. Instead of sleeping, he thought about the developments from that morning. The direction the investigation of the Arnedonian's escape made him uneasy. He doubted they would find reason to suspect him but with each passing day, the risk grew that someone would come to realize that she might have not left the palace at all. Then it would just be a matter of time until the palace was searched.
On the other hand, he had reason to be encouraged by the other brief meeting with the bald man. It sounded like more information would be available soon and if he could thwart Cidrl's objective, whatever that might be, the overall plan might fall apart. It also appeared as though Cidrl expected to leave soon. He wondered what mission would require a full month to complete. He really couldn't even guess since he did not know his present location within the vast reaches of Dolonar or the length of their journey after crossing into the country. Perhaps the Arnedonian woman would at least tell him their present location.
Near dinnertime his tray arrived. The terrified servant paused just inside the doorway to locate him before creeping forward, her eyes avoiding his face but staring at the floor in front of him, presumably to flee should he move. A short time later Cidrl stuck his head through the door and gave him the word to dine, then sleep.
Anthen moved to the dressing room door and listened but heard no sound. He knocked softly and opened the door to find his patient sitting up. It was hot and stuffy in the dressing room and she had discarded the blankets in favor of a single tablecloth as a coverlet.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered.
"Tired but much better. How long have I been here?" The proud young woman looked embarrassed.
"This will be the third night since your escape."
"Third night?" she asked incredulously. "I have been out of my wits for the past two days?"
"Aye," he answered softly.
"I did not cry out? How did you manage?"
Anthen could see she had a many questions but it was too risky for them to talk now so he summarized the situation for her. "Your wounds became infected and you suffered a very high fever. I treated your wounds and fed you medicines to help fight the fever and rest. I gave you something to keep you asleep throughout the day. You must be hungry; you haven't eaten in the past two days."
"I ate all your noon meal and am still famished. You must tell me what has happened."
"I will after the sun sets and we are at less risk," he said while rising. He returned with his tray and handed it to her.
"This is your meal," she protested.
"You need it more, though I'm sure it is cold. I'll eat some of the food pilfered from the kitchen."
She thanked him, took the tray, and hungrily attacked the meal.
"Would you like me to see to your wounds?"
"Thank you. I can manage now ... though you have taken excellent care of me. I could use some water to bathe, though." She winked and beamed a broad smile at him.
The young guardsman warned himself to take care; the woman, like the traitor in the next room, obviously knew how to use her charm. He fetched the water and basin, then looked through the food he pilfered from the kitchen. He found some soft apples, stale bread and dried meat for his own dinner and before leaving, promised to return once it was dark. She smiled and nodded, her mouth full of food.
He lay back on the bed and ate the tasteless meal, washing it down with water. He then watched the sunset through the window and rested, looking forward to sleeping a full night, his first since before the escape. He waited until it was nearly dark then roused himself and knocked softly on the dressing room door. He found her standing and leaning against the wall. She had changed to a plain white gown and he took it as a sign that she felt more secure.
"Can we talk out there or at least leave the door open? I could use some fresh air," she whispered.
Anthen paused, considering the risk. "I suppose you could sit just outside the door. You must be ready to hide from sight the instant either door starts to open."
She nodded and limped from the cell, using the wall for support. He replaced the empty tray and wash basin to their normal positions and lay back down on his bed. Teya leaned against the wall, the bed between her and the rest of the chamber.
"I can give you more medicine," he offered.
"I am fine. The wounds are healing nicely now; my legs are just sore and stiff from lying about like a noble. What news have you? What has transpired in the last three days?"
Anthen described the initial furor after the escape and how Cidrl and the Dolonarians were led to believe that she had escaped without assistance and must surely be hiding somewhere in the city or farmlands beyond. He said that he sensed that Cidrl, though, was not convinced from the beginning and gave an account of their meeting the day before with the eager young captain.
"How long do you think before they search the castle?" Teya queried.
"I think they will soon realize that you had help but I think it will take a few days for them to decide to search the castle, especially this area."
She nodded and Anthen sensed that she agreed with his estimate.
"And what of your mission? Have you learned anything of use?"
Anthen told her about the brief meeting with the bald Dolonarian leader. "I might guess at his objective but I must confess that I do not even know where we are."
"We are in Greyrock, a two or three day ride from your border I would guess."
"That would mean he could easily reach any part of the realm in a month's time," he mused.
"Or Arnedon, should he turn north and traverse the heart of the Misean Desert," she added.
"I must learn the target of his mission," Anthen whispered sharply, more to himself than to her.
Both were quiet as each processed the information and considered their options.
"Have you reached any decisions?" he finally asked, eager to know what role she would play.
"No," Teya said after considering his question. "I am still too weak to attempt an escape but I may feel ready tomorrow." She looked up at him, her eyes dark and serious in the moonlight. "I cannot promise that I will wait for your mission to complete but I also will not necessarily flee as soon as I have the strength. I will reconsider the situation each day."
It was nothing more than he expected or would commit to himself in her situation. "Can you tell me how to escape the palace and reach the lowlands? In case I have to flee as well." He knew she might not wish to divulge her own escape route but he had to try.
She looked out the window while she considered the question, then answered. "Mind you, this does not mean I now trust you completely but I will take the risk and tell you my escape route. You have earned that much."
The guardsman dropped to the floor beside her and she spent the next several minute
s describing her route. She used the wall between them as a map and described the layout of the palace and the location of the stables. She then described a northerly route through the city, which ended at an unused but guarded path cut in the northern face of the mesa. She described the position of the guards as she remembered them. Anthen thanked her and moved back to lay atop the bed.
"Well, I suppose we both need rest," the Arnedonian said and rose to her feet in obvious discomfort.
"Do you need help? Anything you need?" He rose from the bed.
"No. Thank you." Teya started to close the door between them, then paused. "This must be very hard for you," she said sympathetically. "Stepping fresh from the academy full of hope into all this ... treason. It must be quite a shock."
"Yes. I almost could not handle it. The Guard was, is ... my whole life." He struggled with the right words to describe his feelings. "You must remember what it was like when you first started. It cannot have been all that long ago." He said the words without thinking but realized quickly that she would not answer for to answer would openly admit to her true identity.
Teya's face clouded over briefly as though she considered being open with him but then her eyes hardened and she bid him goodnight and closed the door.
Exhausted from nearly three full days with but a few hours of sleep, Anthen returned to his bed and fell immediately into a deep slumber.
Chapter 28
Anthen awoke as usual, well before dawn. In his role, however, he was forced to wait typically an hour or more before being ordered to rise, so he used the time to think. Two more days had passed since Teya had awakened from her fever. Two more fruitless days of shadowing the traitor Cidrl without learning anything new. Two more days of added risk that he might make a mistake or that Teya might be discovered.
The day before, Cidrl had met with the young captain in charge of the investigation and Anthen guessed from their words that they were very close to ordering a search of the palace itself. The captain had guaranteed that there was no way the woman could have escaped to the jungle below yet she seemed to have disappeared completely. He had complained that they’d found absolutely no sign of her after she left the palace and Anthen noted with uneasiness, how quietly Cidrl had taken the news.