Night Calls the Raven (Book 2 of The Master of the Tane)

by Thomas Rath

  “We must ride hard tonight,” he suddenly announced. “With Erl scouting in front, we will not have to slow or be as careful. We can make Haykon by morning.”

  Jne only nodded in agreement and then rushed to close camp. Thane turned back to Erl, who rubbed his head against his hand and whined slightly as if telling him he was sorry. Thane scratched his ear quickly and then sought again the connection between them. Swiftly making contact, he revealed his need to Erl who seemed suddenly excited and eager to help. He was somewhat anxious about Jack and wanted to see his old friend again almost as much as Thane wanted to get to Tam. It was then that Thane learned that Erl had been wondering in search of him. He smiled and laughed slightly, creating a type of growling sound in Erl’s throat. He had the strangest, yet the greatest, friends he could have ever hoped for.

  With Erl out in the lead and clearing the way, they were able to press hard through the night without worrying about stumbling into a HuMan camp or anything else that might be prowling about in the dark. They pushed as hard as they dared, although both knew that their horses would have given more had they asked for it. But neither had the intention, nor the need at this point, to ride their mounts into the grave. The relationship between Tjal and horse was that of mutual respect and concern. Each would give their life for the other.

  Though making good time, and covering a great distance quickly, it was still mid-morning before they finally caught sight of the walls that encased the city. Erl didn’t go any further with them at that point and Thane was sad to leave him behind, but a HuMan’s reaction to a wolg was not a welcoming one.

  Both slowed their well deserving mounts to a leisurely trot, giving them a much needed rest, as well as slowing their approach, not wanting to race up to the walls and cause suspicion. Time was short, but they had to be smart. It would do Tam no good for them to get arrested and end up in irons in the room next to her.

  Jne reached a hand out and touched Thane’s arm. “We will not be welcomed here.”

  Thane just stared at her.

  “The Tjal are feared by HuMans.” She suddenly chuckled. “For good reason. But, they will insist we give them our weapons before we enter the city. It makes them feel more secure.” She almost laughed right out this time. Then in an almost conspiratorial whisper she leaned closer to him and added, “They don’t realize that a Tjal is more dangerous without his swords than with them.”

  He smiled slightly. It was no boasting threat. From the little he knew of the Tjal, he believed it. Pulling at the cloth tied tightly around his head, he checked to make sure his ears were covered by it and his hair.

  Riding northeast, they approached the west gates from the side. They were lucky to be approaching from the west because Jne had said they would not have been allowed to enter from the east. Tjal always had to enter a HuMan city at the main entrance where there were more guards stationed just in case they made a fuss about leaving their weapons. Thane looked at the great wall with guard towers every hundred yards and noticed the activity along the parapet as archers gathered and drew bead on them as they came into range.

  He was about to ask her about it but she cut him off. “Have they got archers on us yet?”

  He nodded. “As a matter of fact, they do. Should we be worried?”

  Jne chuckled. “Cowards,” she breathed under her breath. “No,” she added louder. “This is all part of the welcoming committee for a Tjal when we lower ourselves to enter one of their stinking, disease infested fortresses.”

  Thane nodded his understanding but kept on eye on the wall all the same.

  He became impatient at one point, thinking it was taking too long and wanted to increase their speed. The horses had had a good amount of time to cool down and he wanted to press them forward to the entrance but Jne countered him.

  “A Tjal at the gates is cause to dread, but one at speed’s to be shot dead,” she’d said. “It’s a stupid little lyric, I know, but it’s one the guards are taught almost on their first day of training. So unless we want all of the arrows aimed at us right now to suddenly be let free, it’s the casual pace we have now that must be held.”

  Thane didn’t argue. Although he was feeling anxious about getting to Tam, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to just walk in and take her. The fact that she was so close though, and in their cursed hands, did not make it any easier for him.

  Soon enough they pulled up at the large wooden gates strapped in great bands of steal giving them strength and support. Guard towers rose on either side off the massive doors and were checkered with arrow slits. Thane quickly noticed that every slit contained an archer who had drawn his bow and was aiming it at them as they approached. Smaller guardhouses sat just outside the gates snug against the wall where guards could wait to inspect any who entered the city. Jne was somewhat amazed to find that the only activity at the gate today seemed to come from their arrival. No merchant carts or wagons were lined up to enter as was common for a city as large as Haykon.

  At least twenty guards met them, quickly spreading out and surrounding them, with weapons pulled and at the ready. Every other soldier carried a bow, an arrow nocked and ready to fire—typical Tjal protocol. Five other guards approached, entering the circle that immediately closed behind them. None had weapons pulled.

  “What’s your business here?” one of the five asked while the others split, two going to either side of Thane and Jne.

  “Got some coin to spend,” Jne answered casually, seemingly unaffected by the fact that they could be killed on a whim at any moment.

  “Your pretty far from the plains, ain’t ya sweetie?” the one interrogating them asked, a slight grin playing across his lips. The man was obviously a fool or stupid drunk. Though Jne was a beautiful woman, she was also Tjal, which made her beauty even more lethal.

  She glared at the man making him take a sudden step back and causing the guards in the circle to tense and lean forward slightly. Thane didn’t like how this was suddenly turning out. He had no intention of dying on the doorstep to Haykon because a HuMan was fool enough to insult a Tjal. Thankfully, Jne’s glare softened into a wicked smile. “That I am,” she purred at the man. “Maybe you can show me something of your big…city later.”

  The man smiled back and the guards relaxed some. He was a fool; and probably stupid drunk, too. “I think that might be arranged,” he slurred.

  Jne’s smile held. “Good. So why don’t you disarm me and my friend here so we can get on with our business so I can be free later on to give all of my attention to you.”

  Thane almost felt sorry for the idiot man as he half bowed to them before requesting they pass down their swords. Thane reached for the hilts of his swords strapped snuggly to his back but stopped short when all the arrows suddenly turned on him.

  “Hold!” the man yelled. “And what do you think you’re doing?”

  “He’s never been to your fine city before,” Jne quickly interjected. Flashing a withering glare at Thane as she unbuckled the scabbards of her swords and handed them down to the two men next to her. Thane smiled dumbly and held out his hands before following suit. The two guards at his side quickly grabbed the weapons from him as he passed them down and the whole area seemed to release a great sigh of relief.

  “You best teach your friend here proper city etiquette if you know what’s good for him,” the man barked. “I’d hate to have to slap irons on him and ruin our friendly exchange.” He winked at Jne. Thane saw her smile crack and her hands tightened suddenly into fists. This was going to get ugly quick if they didn’t get away soon.

  “Is that all then?” Thane asked, drawing all eyes to him. He could feel Jne’s glare burning into the side of his face but knew she was at the end of her charm. This man didn’t know when to quit. In fact, it was a wonder the man was still alive. There was a long tense silence before the man suddenly nodded his head. “Good,” Thane said, kicking Chtey forward. “Then we’ll be moving on.” The man and the other guards scattered out o
f the way as he and Jne rode forward, the circle of guards opening up to let them pass.

  “Just leave your horses at the stables inside,” the man shouted behind them. “And I’ll see you at third watch when I get off,” he said to Jne’s back. Thane could see her face turning red but knew the best thing to do was to get her away as quickly as possible.

  Entering the city, Thane immediately felt like he was in a cage with the press of so many buildings and people. He did notice that he and Jne were given a wide berth, to which he was grateful, but he still felt nervous and trapped. Leaving the horses at the stable, Jne stomped into the crowd, fists still clenched, causing the people milling about to almost turn and run over the tops of each other to get out of her way. Thane ran to catch her grabbing her arm to stop her and was almost flattened by her other fist swinging around at him.

  “Easy,” he said just barely ducking away in time to escape a broken nose.

  She glared at him for a moment and he wasn’t sure if she would swing again before her face finally softened a bit—a bit. “Did you hear that jakare? He’s lucky to still be alive.”

  Thane grabbed her other arm and forced her to look at him. “I know, I know,” he soothed, “but right now is not the time to deal with him.”

  “Honor dictates that I pull his throat out with my bare hands.”

  “I know,” he said, having a hard time keeping a hold of her wrists as she flexed against him, fighting to get free so she could return to the gates and sooth her honor. “You can do what you will when we leave, but not until then. We must get Tam.”

  But she wasn’t listening. Thane sighed. He didn’t want to do this but knew it was the only way he was going to get her to control herself so they could do what they came to do. “You are Jinghar,” he spout, “and against your honor you will do what you are told.”

  Jne took a sudden breath, shooting him the most deadly and hateful look he’d ever seen. It hurt him to see it. He supposed it should have frightened him, but he felt more pain from it than anything else. He’d have much rather had her smile glowing on his face. For a moment he wasn’t sure if it was going to work. In fact, he feared he’d made things worse when suddenly, her face went blank; the anger and hatred gone leaving only a look of apathy.

  “I am Jinghar,” she repeated and then relaxed her arms. “And I must obey.”

  Thane felt somewhat tortured by her response but knew that it was the only way. Her honor, though brutally attacked by that idiot guard, was more at risk by her own actions against being Jinghar than by the words of a drunken fool. He’d hated to do it, afraid that she might return to the stiff, I am bound by my Jinghar duty and honor, instead of the friend he felt he’d been gaining, but there was nothing for it. He had to get to Tam. They were so close.

  He looked around at the large buildings and the narrow streets crowded with people but knew that he could still find where she was being held. In fact, being so close, he thought he could almost feel her where he stood. Glancing almost apologetically at Jne, he reached out a hand for her arm and then stopped as he noticed her pull slightly away. He sighed. “It’s this way,” he motioned toward the street just to their left, “come on.”

  Moving up the narrow lane the crowds continued to almost magically melt away from them keeping at least an arms length distance. People rushed into shops or merely pushed others out of the way as the two approached not wanting to get closer than need be to two Tjal. Thane almost smiled. As crushing as the city already felt to him, at least he did not have to deal with the hordes of people milling about. For once in his life he was happy to be feared. He supposed it didn’t hurt having Jne walking next to him and glaring at anyone who got too close. He almost wanted to join the people crowding away into the shops to escape the wrath he knew burned in her. He had to brush those thoughts away though and concentrate on how they were going to free Tam. He couldn’t just walk in and take her. Or could he? He smiled. It might work.

  Slowly, even with the crowds clearing their path, they made it to the center of the city where Thane was certain Tam was held. He’d felt her presence growing stronger as they got closer though it felt somewhat strange at the same time. “How much money do you have?” he asked Jne, while stopping just inside the city square.

  Buildings crowded around on all sides forming a large square around a rather plain looking box shaped structure standing in the center. It was nothing spectacular. In fact, it was a rather dull edifice to command such a place of seeming importance. There appeared to be only one door in and very few windows. Neither was it a large building like some of those surrounding it begging for the attention of the passerby with their brightly painted walls and signs. It was stark in its pale gray color. No trees grew around it like those that dotted the sidewalks of the other buildings, only large shrubs. But that was where she was. He remembered the look from when he saw her while riding the winds.

  “Enough,” was all Jne answered to his question of money.

  “Give it to me. I have an idea.”

  He ignored the withering look she shot him and grabbed the leather bag she had untied from her belt. In such a large city filled with so many people no one in their right mind would carry their gold in such an easy spot for a cutpurse to get at, but then again, no cutpurse would be foolish enough to try and steal from a Tjal-Dihn either.

  Tying the purse to his own belt, he motioned her to follow and walked straight toward the door of the box shaped building. Two guards stood by the entrance and immediately called for him to halt when his intended heading became obvious.

  “What business has a Tjal here?”

  “I have come to view and possibly buy the Chufa prisoner,” he said pointedly trying to give off an air of confidence and importance.

  The guards turned to blankly stare at each other for a brief moment before Thane noticed a twitch suddenly appear on both of their cheeks just around the corners of their mouths. He didn’t know it, but both men were fighting as hard as they could to not laugh directly in his face. Had he been any other than Tjal-Dihn they would have laughed him to scorn, but scorn was not something one knowingly elicited from a Tjal.

  “Begging your pardon, sir,” one of the guards finally managed, fighting desperately hard to sound official and not laugh. “But, there are no prisoners held here, especially ones of the Chufa type.”

  Thane was at first shocked by the answer before his face swiftly clouded over in a sneer. Catching the look, the guard coughed quickly and then hurriedly added, “The prison is back near the eastern gates, sir. You might try your luck there.”

  Thane eyed the man, thinking he was lying but his demeanor only showed him to be nervous, which could have meant anything since he was talking to a Tjal and that seemed to be the general reaction people had around one of his supposed race. Turning to Jne, she merely shrugged having no idea what his plan had been in the first place.

  Cocking her head to the side, she said, “Come, Renja. Let’s find some place to stay and get something to eat.”

  “But…” he tried to object, but she cut him off.

  “Let’s go,” she said in that voice she used when she was not to be argued with. Thane glared at the guards one last time before turning and following her across the street. The guards watched them go making sure they were well out of earshot before finally bursting out laughing.

  * * *

  Dor turned toward the window, annoyed at the laughter coming from outside that was sure to ruin Tam’s slumber. She had tossed and turned for the past two hours before finally settling down somewhat and falling asleep. She needed all the rest she could get if she was going to last much longer, although Dor knew it would not be too long before she passed to a realm too far for him to reach.

  The past two days had been really bad. More than once he actually thought she might break the ropes that had her tied down. Most of her waking moments had been fits of rage followed by tearful begging before returning to more threats and fury. She had called him e
very foul name he’d ever heard and some she must have learned from the trolls. She even made him promises of anything he could possibly want if he would just let her free. His heart ached to watch her in such a condition, especially knowing that she was not going to recover; that she would soon die, killed by her addiction.

  Kat had come in earlier, trying to comfort him, but he had sent her away. He knew it had hurt her, but he wanted to be alone. He wanted these last moments with Tam to be theirs alone, even if for her part they were filled with hate and anger.

  Another peel of laughter broke through the window and Dor rose to go tell the guards to shut up but was stopped by Tam’s quiet voice. “Dor,” she said just barely louder than a whisper. “Dor, please hold my hand.”

  He looked down at her, the tears coming automatically as he reached his hand out to touch hers. He knew that he shouldn’t, that in her state of addiction she might crush his fingers should she fall into one of her rages, but he needed the contact with her. He needed her to know that he was there and that he cared for her.

  “What is it?” he asked softly. “You should be getting some rest.”

  She shook her head weakly. “No, I want to be awake when I die.”

  It was almost too much for him to take. His whole world was slipping away. First Thane, and now Tam. He tried not to blame himself, but he couldn’t keep the nagging idea that if only he’d done things differently then none of this would be happening.

  “Oh Tam,” he whispered, the tears now flowing unchecked down his face. “Don’t talk like that. You’re getting better. You’ll be up and around in no time calling me names and making my life miserable again.”

  She smiled, sighing. “Thank you for taking care of me, Dor.” She looked up at him with her large dark eyes and he could see that she was fully with him. There was no sign of the drug that dulled her visage or added the crazed look that so often covered her face. It was all Tam. “Don’t mourn me when I die. It’s all right. I’m not afraid. In fact, I welcome it. I know that I have not been myself. I know that I have done and said terrible things to you. Please forgive me. That’s all I ask before I die is that you forgive me.”