Amaskan's Blood

by Raven Oak

  After half a candlemark, they were on their way, and Adelei’s fingers traced the outlines on the saddle’s pommel. Ida spoke, her voice tired and thick with hangover. “Ya were five when ya were taken from Alexander, but much has improved since the war. No longer are the people comprised of starvin’ and poor farmers, them dyin’ in the streets. The poor still exist, but rebuildin’ brought change to these lands. Alexander’s a major trader of many goods across the Little Dozen.”

  The woman paused to stare across a patch of dense forest. “This forest used to hide our enemy, and pockets of it were destroyed in the fires of war; but now it’s home to many. The forest grows thick, as does the kingdom’s wealth.”

  Adelei could taste the burned stench in the air. “I clung to the saddle.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I clung to the saddle. The trees whipped past me. I could barely see through the hood you tossed over my head, but I could smell the woods. The land reeked of blood and smoke.” When Adelei opened her eyes, the forest was clear of the past.

  At some point, Midnight had stopped, digging her hooves into the dirt and leaves below. Adelei swallowed hard. “We passed through here—along this pass, didn’t we?”

  “Yes. ’Twas the only way to get past the Shadian army. ’Twas the forest or not at all. I’d forgotten we’d come through here.” Both horses moved on, a quicker journey as both women sought to escape the ghosts swinging in the trees.

  “I’m surprised the King is going through with the marriage.” Adelei inhaled the pine fragrance to try and rid herself of the acrid scent burned into her nostrils. “After all these years, surely Alexander could build a strong enough army to defeat Shad if they attacked. Why not refuse the marriage?”

  Ida hissed in a swift breath. “And be an oathbreaker? Never.”

  “Better an oathbreaker than to sell your child to the enemy, I would think. Especially one who may be behind attempts to take out the royal bloodline.”

  Silence followed both women for a time as they passed a smaller town and crossed yet another creek. As they approached the second town of the day, people ran up to Ida and reached up hands to greet her. Children cried out for her to stop and tell them a tale, while parents offered invitations to stop and quench her thirst.

  She refused all offers as they traveled and once away from starving ears, she resumed their conversation. “I know ya view this marriage with serious doubts, but the princess is excited about it. She’s found her prince and is ready to become Queen.” Ida pitched her voice too high.

  She was lying again. Adelei asked Ida, “Has she even met the man she’s to marry?”

  “Once. ’Twas an arranged meetin’, of course, but they got along well enough.”

  “Has anyone considered that the Prince of Shad or his people could be behind the assassination attempts on Her Highness?”

  “Of course,” Ida answered. “King Leon for one. But I don’t know the details of the event, or the investigation that happened after. His Majesty’s keeping those details to himself. I do know that Princess Margaret’s not aware an attempt has been made on her life.” Another lie, another twitch of the woman’s cheek.

  Adelei held her tongue as they passed the first travelers on the road: a horse drawn carriage with numerous guards who were wary until they spotted Ida’s sigil on her tunic. They glared at Adelei with deep frowns and kept their hands near their weapons.

  “How does Her Highness not know? Or more importantly, why doesn’t she know?”

  “I’m not privy to that information. ’Twas your father’s choice not to tell her. The attack was made the very same day she met Prince Gamun, who prevented its success. More than that, you’ll have to ask your father. He doesn’t trust me enough to tell me anythin’ these days.”

  The crushing of leaves ahead of them caught Adelei’s attention, and she pulled her hood tighter before ducking closer to the saddle. It was probably another traveler. Gods knew there would be enough of them between here and Alesta.

  Ida sat in the same position, her eyes scanning the trees in front of them. Adelei almost missed it—the slightest hints of emerald green that didn’t match the surrounding trees’ muted colors. The bright tone rocked back and forth a fraction of space.

  Adelei’s fingers, hidden from view by Midnight’s neck and massive head, pointed in the direction of the color. At Ida’s nod, she rolled out of the saddle to drop to the leaves below. At the same time, Ida kicked her mare, which reared up. Midnight sidestepped to avoid the mare, and Adelei used the noise and size of her horse to shield herself from movement until she could lean behind a tree.

  Stepping carefully, she made her way around the clearing and used the trees for cover. Adelei cursed her lack of green clothing to camouflage her movements. While the forest held shadows, her white clothes were too bright. As Adelei moved, Ida tried unsuccessfully to regain control of her horse as the beast continued stepping away from her.

  The mare reared, stomping around in the underbrush and making quite the racket. Ida gave the mare conflicting signals with the words she spoke, and the chaos provided cover. The distraction worked as Adelei stepped behind the hidden foe crouched behind a bush.

  His knocked arrow wavered as it followed Ida’s movements, but it ceased its path when Adelei’s dagger touched his throat. “Drop the bow and arrow,” she whispered.

  The foe did both readily enough and stood at her urging. Adelei guided him out into the clearing where Ida’s mount instantly settled. Ida approached them both, her hand on her sword’s hilt. “Are you alone?” Adelei asked as she peered out into the trees.

  When the man didn’t answer, a trickle of blood appeared at his throat in warning. “I’m alone.”

  “Good. Who was your target?”

  Beads of sweat popped up across his forehead and rolled down a freshly shaved cheek. Ida’s six foot two inch frame leaned over him, her grin harsh and nightmarish on its own, and his throat convulsed as he swallowed hard. “I believe we asked ya a question, son,” Ida hissed.

  “I was—I was ta look for a companion. A warrior bein’ brought in from outKingdom.”

  So I was the target. But he thought Ida was the warrior. She glanced at Ida who nodded. She, too, caught his mistake.

  “Who sent you?” Adelei asked and pushed the knife a smidge closer to his flesh. Instead of answering, the man lunged forward, shoving his neck deeper into her blade. The arterial crimson sprayed out and coated the leaves at his feet. Adelei pulled the knife away and released the man to the forest floor.

  It wasn’t soon enough. The attacker bled out in the dirt and leaves.

  “Damn.” As he breathed his last breath, Adelei’s hands shuffled through pockets along his body. She was careful and tried to shield probing fingers from poisoned bits that could stick her. Well acquainted with such techniques, Adelei avoided his wrists and waist until she stripped him of his clothes and weapons.

  Ida stood guard, her eyes never leaving the forest. On the inside of his right ankle, Adelei found what she’d been both hoping for and praying against—a small triangle burned into the skin. It was red and puffy from recent marking.

  “He’s Tribor.”

  The former captain wrenched her gaze away from the trees and at the new tattoo. “Gods be with us,” she whispered.

  Adelei dragged his body by the arms away from the clearing and into a patch of thick underbrush where she covered it with twigs and leaves. Ida kicked up dirt to cover all traces of his blood. It wasn’t the quickest or cleanest way to cover evidence, but it was all they had.

  “We dare not stop now. We must reach the city of Menoir before nightfall,” said Adelei as she cleaned her knife on some of the leaves from the forest floor.

  “That’s a day’s travel at a steady pace. If we push the horses, we could make it by sunset.” Once they were both astride, both forced their mounts forward at a gallop.

  They already knew where they were. No need to hide their horses’ passage at th
at point. If they didn’t reach the walls of a city by nightfall, one of them might not make it there at all.

  “You have more experience with the Tribor than me, being closer to Shad. What do you know of them?” she called out to Ida as they brushed past the trees.

  “Assassins. Not Amaskans—no morals, no creed outside their worship of Itova, the Death Goddess. They’re hired thugs who’ll do any job, no matter how dirty.” The warrior spit on the ground. “It’s rumored they hail from Shad.”

  “So nothing the Amaskans didn’t already know. Damn, I was hoping you knew something more.”

  Ida shook her head. “I wish. Might make your job simpler.”

  “If the Shadians support the Tribor, they may be behind the assassination attempts on the princess. But why not just cancel the wedding and declare war? Why the pretense of a treaty?” A deer up ahead fled from their horses’ hooves as they passed, and Adelei ducked beneath a tree branch that came close to smacking her in the face. “Ida, if the princess dies after the wedding, who gets the crown?” Ida cocked an eye brow and tilted her head. “No,” Adelei answered the unspoken question, “No, I don’t want it. Assuming that, who would get it if the royal line is exterminated?”

  “The prince would rule on behalf of any children ’til they were of age. If there are no children, the treaty states the prince would rule, and upon his death, our country would return to the Alexandrian bloodline if he begot no heirs. Some cousin or another would take the crown.”

  So they need the marriage to put the prince in line for taking over the crown. Once there, he could attempt to change the laws any way he saw fit—after all, with my sister and father out of the picture, who would be left to stop him?

  Following Adelei’s line of thought, Ida called out, “The people of Alexander would never stand by and allow a Shadian to wrest away control of the crown.”

  “They may not have a choice if the Shadian army invades. They can’t be too obvious about it—so they’ll use their pet Tribor to kill off the royal family. Nothing but a bunch of murderers.” In this case, the term was accurate. The Tribor didn’t take sides; they killed indiscriminately.

  They even kill children. We’re in trouble. Not that Adelei couldn’t take on a Tribor or two, but she was willing to bet she would be outnumbered. And racing for safety with her back to the enemy. The thought sent a shiver through her, and Adelei leaned closer to the saddle to minimize herself as a moving target.

  The two women kept their horses at the pace as long as they could. Sweat coated their hides while foam gathered at their mouths. Adelei patted her horse’s neck. “I promise you all the water and warm oats you can eat if you can get us to Menoir. Just hang in there,” she whispered in Midnight’s ear.

  As they broke free of the forest, the main road held throngs of travelers headed for the capital. With the joining of two royal families, everyone who was able packed up for an extended stay. It was a chance to visit with family and friends seen rarely enough and an excuse to imbibe to excess at the King’s expense. And with the roads thick with travelers, it would take some a good month’s walk to reach the city.

  The crowd forced them to slow their mounts, lest they trample some child running underfoot. The guards at the gates raised bows as their battle mounts trotted toward the entrance to the city.

  Ida held the gold coin in the air. Within a breath, someone called for the gate to be opened just wide enough to allow the women through, single file, before the tall, wooden doors were slammed shut. The guardsmen threw the heavy bars into place to lock it.

  The crowds outside whined, and a few demanded entrance. Adelei ignored them as she slid off her horse. Midnight’s foamy mouth shuddered as he panted, and she leaned against him for support as she fought to catch her own breath. Her closeness kept him calm as people moved around them, their shoulders bumping her as they carried their travel bags in the direction of whatever inns the town held. She could see why they had closed the gates. The town was overrun with travelers as it was.

  A hand reached out to touch Midnight’s flank and Adelei spun, dagger in hand. Steel slid from scabbards, but Ida touched Adelei’s shoulder and shook her sweaty head. The shadow that had fallen over the horse stood before her, and his hand remained on his sword.

  Ida stepped in front of Adelei, placing her muscular frame between the two parties. “Nice to see ya again, Lieutenant Gerald,” she said, no trace of a smile on her face.

  The officer glared at Ida, his grip on the hilt of his sword relaxing just a hair. He didn’t offer a hand or a smile, but instead, turned about face and strode to the stairs of a guard tower.

  “What’s his deal?” Adelei said.

  “The good lieutenant doesn’t like managin’ a city. Feels his talents would be better suited in a position such as Captain of the Royal Guard or even sepier.” Ida chuckled as she unstrapped bags from her horse. “Who knows, he may yet replace me in that regard with everythin’ that’s happened.”

  A younger sergeant, blue eyes like the Harren Sea and a bright smile to match, saluted them both. The young man squirmed under Ida’s gaze, his face slightly flushed, but he remained in place at attention. Before the sergeant could speak, Ida’s thick arms wrapped around his bean-pole frame. When she released him, she stepped back, her eyes traveling his length. “Ya need to eat more.”

  “Really, Mom? They feed me well enough.”

  Ida laughed. “This’s my son, Sergeant Leolin. Leolin, this’s Master Adelei of Sadai.”

  The young man’s grip reminded Adelei of Ida herself, firm but friendly, and just a touch suspicious. His lankier height didn’t detract from a face that mirrored Ida’s own. Dark complexion led to Ida’s blue eyes and a crooked nose that bore her spirit as well. But his chin was wide and strong, not like the tapered chin of his mother, and his long, tailed hair was as dark as night.

  “Is there somewhere we can speak? Privately?” asked Ida.

  Leolin nodded. A quick whistle brought several stablehands forward, who stopped when Adelei’s hand shot up in warning. She patted Midnight’s flank and whispered to him, “Shie-neah,” and the horse relaxed. Midnight followed where the stablehand led him. Leolin, Ida, and Adelei crossed the courtyard and entered a building that looked more like a barn than a proper military building. Though once inside, Adelei admired its efficient use of space as offices; guest rooms were crammed back to back like a large jigsaw puzzle.

  What space wasn’t allotted for rooms held storage shelves and bins aplenty. Every space served some purpose. Sergeant Leolin ushered the women into a meeting room of sorts, and his frown deepened as he watched his mother rake her fingers through her graying brown hair.

  “We’re headin’ out tomorrow,” Ida said as she lowered herself into a chair. “But I’d have ya know that we were attacked on the way here.”

  Leolin leaned over the table toward his mother, searching for signs of a wound. “Who?”

  “Tribor.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  His fist struck the wooden table, and a small crack appeared in the polished wood, which widened when he struck the table again. “How do you know?”

  Adelei said, “He bore the mark.”

  “And just who are you? Unknown master of what exactly?” His mother gasped and uttered his name, but he continued. “Who are you to know about the mark of Tribor? Was he after you?”

  When Adelei stood, she allowed her hood to fall from her head. Almost two weeks’ travel had left sharp, black stubble across her head and even with the scab at her jawline, the boy must have put two and two together as he shook his head while he stood between the two women. “I’m a former member of the Order, like your mother,” she whispered. “But this isn’t public information, understand?”

  In the military’s blue uniform, his tall stance aged him. But when he gaped at her, the young man became the boy again. He was younger than he looked. She had thought him her age, but he couldn’t be much more than si
xteen, maybe seventeen. To Ida, she asked, “I take it you two have a bone to pick with the Tribor?”

  “We do. They killed Leolin’s father.”

  Footsteps outside alerted them to someone’s approach. Adelei threw her hood over her head, and all tongues stilled as the door opened. A soldier poked his head around the door. “Sergeant, I heard a loud noise from inside here. Sir, I’m sorry to intrude, but is everything all right—”

  “We’re fine. Leave us.” The young man nodded once to Leolin before closing the door with an audible click.

  “I thought you said this room was private, Sergeant.”

  Leolin crossed the room and locked the door. “It normally is, Master Adelei. Whatever your business here, it had better be worth this. The Tribor don’t stop until their mark is dead. You put a great many people at risk by being here.”

  “Son, we understand the risk. But what would ya have us do? Out there, we’d be dead once dark hit the trees.” She patted her son’s hand gently. “I hate to burden ya further, but we need a room for the night. After that, we’ll be gone, and the Tribor hopefully with us.” A silent plea passed from mother to son.

  Leolin beckoned them to follow him. “I’ll get you a room. But you must leave by morning. I cannot risk the people of this town or the travelers outside the gates with your presence. If the Tribor are on your tail, we’re all in danger. Security is nightmare enough, especially with an ever changing border. Mother, I’m sorry, but I can’t do more.”

  The woman wrapped her son in a hug. “I’d expect nothin’ less from ya my son, nothin’ less.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Leaving Menoir proved uneventful, no further evidence of the Tribor present as both women journeyed the half-day toward Alesta. While Ida relaxed in the saddle, a tension knot ached in Adelei’s neck that sang of nerves on edge and too long on the road. The morning proved quiet for both of them, leaving Adelei time to worry about the assassin that was or wasn’t on their tail.

  She was sure Ida worried about the son she’d left behind, no matter how relaxed her stance appeared. Adelei had never encountered a Tribor assassin in person, but the stories whispered behind closed doors at the Order were enough to give her pause.