Khalshir (Kingmakers Book 1)

by Jaye McKenna

  “Can we stop anyway?” Dani asked, more for Rio than for himself.

  Rio gave him a doubtful look. “Given the consequences of getting caught, I think I’d prefer to press on while we have daylight.”

  Clearly, if Dani was to have any chance of getting Rio to rest, a small distortion of the truth was necessary. “I have a dreadful headache,” he said apologetically. “I’d really like to stop, if you think it’s safe.”

  “You should have said so,” Rio said immediately. “We could have stopped earlier.”

  “I know, but I also know how important it is for us to reach the pass.”

  “It is, but… if you’re not feeling well…” Rio frowned, then nodded and said decisively, “I want to scout along our back trail first, make certain we’re alone.”

  Dani scowled. Scouting along the back trail would take ages, and rather defeated the purpose of stopping early so Rio could rest. “Ah. Well… I could probably manage if we pressed on for a bit. Maybe we’ll find a better campsite farther on. Someplace a bit more sheltered.”

  “No, we’re stopping.” Now the decision was made, Rio was adamant. “I just want to make sure nobody’s lurking in the woods, waiting for us.”

  Which left Dani no choice but to let him go. “Will you still let me take a watch tonight?”

  “Only if you’re feeling better,” Rio said. “If you’re coming down with something, you need to rest.” He slid down off his horse and led her into the dubious shelter of the ruin. Dani followed suit, and Rio began unfastening his saddlebags. “I’ll try not to be too long,” he said. “Go ahead and set up camp, but no fire. Nothing to give our position away.”

  After Rio had ridden off with only his weapons and a water skin, Dani scuffed at the patchy grass in frustration. So much for tricking Rio into taking it easy for the rest of the day. With a sigh, he began unstrapping his saddlebags.

  When that was finished, he turned to survey the ruin, studying the corners to determine which might offer the best shelter.

  The walls were highest to the southwest, so he dragged the saddlebags to that corner. He was just bending to pick up Rio’s saddlebags when an arm wrapped around his neck and something sharp poked into his back.

  Dani froze.

  “I’ve been looking for you, Danakho Jherek,” said a hoarse, raspy voice. “Where’s Rio?”

  “I don’t know.” Dani’s voice trembled. “We parted ways days ago.”

  The arm tightened around his neck, threatening to choke him. “Don’t lie to me.”

  Bajhan. It had to be. “Why should I help you? You’re only going to kill me, aren’t you?”

  “Ai, but I’m not in a hurry. You’ll make good bait for Rio, don’t you think?”

  Dani cursed under his breath as despair overwhelmed him.

  This was his fault. He should never have suggested they stop early.

  * * *

  There was nothing remarkable about the bird call. It was sweet and familiar, and reminded Rio of the jungle surrounding Vhalion. It was the call of the kirit, and the sound of it froze his blood. That sound had no place here in the forests of Cathan, but back on the streets of Vhalion, he and Coryn had used the bird’s distinctive call to warn one another when a shout would give them away.

  Rio brought his horse to a halt and cocked his head, listening for any sound that would reveal Coryn’s location. If Coryn was here, Bajhan wouldn’t be far away.

  Had they already found Dani? He hadn’t even been gone half an hour, and he’d seen no sign of anyone following. No sign obvious enough to penetrate the fog of exhaustion clouding his mind, at least.

  The call came again, closer this time. Rio slid down off the horse and drew his sword, keeping the animal at his back as he scanned the trees.

  A few moments later, Coryn emerged from the brush, empty hands held out to his sides. “We need to talk, Rio.”

  Rio sheathed his weapon, but kept his hand on the hilt. “You’re still with Bajhan, aren’t you?”

  “Ai.” Coryn moved closer, ice-blue eyes fixed on Rio’s. “Been doing what I can to keep him off your trail, but he picked it up near the ruin.” Coryn jerked his head back in the direction of the watchtower where he’d left Dani.

  A cold knot twisted in Rio’s gut. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Don’t you know?” Coryn moved closer.

  The back of Rio’s neck prickled. Dangerous…

  What if he was lying? What if Bajhan was approaching from behind right now?

  Coryn continued moving forward, eyes still locked on Rio’s. He closed the last few steps between them, arms still held out to his sides, leaving himself completely vulnerable.

  “What are you—”

  Slowly, slowly, Coryn lowered his arms, leaned forward, and pressed his lips to Rio’s. The kiss was tender and yearning, but Rio couldn’t bring himself to return it. He stood there, frozen, waiting.

  Coryn finally drew back and dropped his eyes. “I love you,” he said, voice full of longing. “I always have. But you don’t…”

  A lump burned in Rio’s throat. Dani had been right. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t want to say the words, but Coryn had told him the truth, fully aware that what he had to say might destroy their friendship. He owed Coryn nothing less. “You’re my closest friend. My brother. But… I don’t…”

  Coryn lifted a pale hand and pressed a finger to Rio’s lips. “You don’t feel it for me. Not that way. I know. Guess I’ve always known. Wish it could be different, but… you love Dani, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Rio whispered, realizing it was true.

  “Bajhan has him at the ruin where you left him. I’m supposed to find you and tell you if you don’t surrender, he’ll kill Dani.”

  Rio closed his eyes, cursing himself. He should never have left Dani alone.

  “You can’t trust him,” Coryn continued. “Once he’s got you, he’ll kill Dani.”

  “Then I’ll have to face him.” He’d wondered if it might come to this, and the thought of it left him cold and empty. Could he really kill the last living member of his family? He might have to. Bajhan had clearly made his choice, and now Rio would have to do the same.

  Coryn’s eyes went wide. “He’ll kill you,” he whispered.

  “He’ll try,” Rio said grimly.

  “Rio—”

  “Will you promise me something?”

  There was a long silence, during which Coryn’s features twisted in anguish. “I won’t help you kill him.” His voice sounded like it was being forced through a throat lined with broken glass.

  “No.” Rio shook his head. “I would never ask that of you. Just stay out of it. Let me face Bajhan without interference.”

  Coryn stared down at the ground, hiding his expression. He opened his right hand, revealing the scar crossing his palm. “You ask a lot, brother,” he murmured.

  Rio took hold of his hand and laced their fingers together. “It isn’t your fight.”

  “Maybe not, but if you fight him, one of you will die. I can’t live with that.”

  “It isn’t your choice, either.”

  Ice-blue eyes lifted to meet Rio’s. “I don’t want to watch you die.”

  Rio squeezed his hand. “You won’t have to,” he said, determined to make it so. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  * * *

  The moment Coryn let go of his hand, Rio mounted and rode back toward the ruin as fast as he dared. He didn’t look back. Didn’t want to know if Coryn was following him, and fervently hoped he wasn’t. Coryn didn’t need to watch him face Bajhan, who had been the only real father either of them had ever known.

  He was halfway back when the rain started. A distant growl of thunder promised more than just a light drizzle. Rio cursed under his breath and picked up his speed. Hoping he might surprise Bajhan, he tethered his horse behind a dense tangle of underbrush on the eastern side of the hilltop and circled the tower on foot, keeping to the trees.

  Bajhan was
already out there, scanning the forest in every direction. There was too much bare ground between them for Rio to surprise him, and if he wanted this over before the storm hit, a direct approach would serve best.

  Steeling himself to fight his mentor, Rio stepped out of the trees and made his way up the hill. He half expected Bajhan to charge him in an attempt to keep the advantage of higher ground, but Bajhan didn’t move from his spot. His dark eyes followed Rio’s progress, his expression impassive.

  As Rio climbed, he scanned the terrain, keeping one eye on Bajhan. Broken stone littered the hilltop, making it less than ideal ground for a fight. Behind Bajhan, the jagged, dark grey wall of the tower was momentarily illuminated by a flash of lightning. There was no sign of Dani.

  Rio stopped at the edge of the hilltop, some fifteen paces from his mentor, hand on the hilt of his sword. “Where’s Danakho?”

  Bajhan jerked a thumb toward the ruined tower. “He’s fine for now. Give yourself up, Rio. I’ll kill him if you don’t.”

  “You’ll kill him if I do.”

  “Give yourself up, and I’ll make sure he dies quickly and painlessly,” Bajhan clarified.

  “How about you let us go, and we all walk away from this alive?”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “I’m not going back,” Rio said. “And if you don’t hand Dani over to me — unharmed — I will fight you. I don’t want to, but…”

  Bajhan’s eyes flickered with some emotion Rio couldn’t read. “So be it.” He pressed his lips together in a grim line and drew his blade.

  Rio drew his own sword and eyed the ground. It was rocky and uneven, with clumps of weeds hiding chunks of broken stone from the tower. Bajhan would have had time to study it, and had surely chosen the most advantageous ground for himself. The rain wasn’t going to help either of them, but Bajhan had years of experience on him, and was a far better swordsman.

  He waited, resting lightly on the balls of his feet, ready to move the moment Bajhan committed himself. Unlike Rio, Bajhan apparently had no qualms about fighting the last surviving member of his tribe. He closed in to attack, his movements smooth, fluid, and so very fast.

  Rio was forced to go on the defensive immediately. Even with all his attention focused on parrying Bajhan’s blows, his uncle’s sword still managed to penetrate his defenses several times. Shallow cuts stung his arms and thigh before Bajhan retreated.

  He was too slow. The burn on his back stung, and his mind was dulled with fatigue. Bajhan knew he was weakened. Rio had given his mentor at least three openings in which he could have delivered a mortal blow.

  Bajhan had chosen not to follow through.

  He wanted Rio alive so he could drag him back to the Guild Master for punishment.

  Gritting his teeth, Rio dared to attack. Bajhan’s defense was perfect, impenetrable. Even when he’d been in top shape, Rio had never been able to get close enough to nick him, and he was a long way from top shape now. The weight of his rain-soaked clothing dragged at his limbs, slowing him even more. Despair shivered through him at the thought of Dani, whose very life depended on him somehow winning this fight.

  When Bajhan closed in for another attack, it was all Rio could do to hold off the flurry of blows raining down on him. Fatigue and pain made it impossible for him to get the upper hand. It was only a matter of time before Bajhan wore him down.

  Or before Rio made a mistake and ended up at his uncle’s feet in a pool of blood.

  Lightning flashed, and in the blue-white glare, Rio caught sight of a dark shape moving behind Bajhan.

  Dani? No, Dani wouldn’t—

  That moment of distraction cost him the fight.

  A sharp pain in his belly snapped his focus back just in time for him to see Bajhan withdrawing his blade from Rio’s body, the tip dark with blood. Rio froze, staring at his uncle.

  Bajhan moved back out of range, but raised his blade for another attack. “Give it up, boy. You’re done.”

  Rio struggled to raise his own blade in answer. It felt heavy in his trembling hands. “No. You’re not taking me back there. I’ll die first.” He prepared to defend himself to the death, but Bajhan never made that final attack. As Rio watched, his mentor dropped heavily to his knees, then slumped over and fell to the ground.

  The moment Bajhan hit the ground, Coryn was at Rio’s side. “No, no, no, Rio, gods, I’m so sorry.”

  Rio stared at him, uncomprehending.

  “Let me see.” Coryn’s hands were already tugging at his shirt. Rio looked down to see a dark stain on the rain-soaked fabric. “I was trying to help. I didn’t mean to distract you!”

  “Rio!” Dani’s voice came from the tower, and a moment later, he came running out. “Are you all right? I felt—”

  “He’s hurt,” Coryn said flatly.

  “I’m fine,” Rio protested, trying to pull away. It was only a dull ache now, nothing he couldn’t handle.

  Coryn put a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get inside near the packs. I need to look at this.”

  Rio glanced at Bajhan. “What about him? Is he…?”

  “Dead?” Coryn’s lips curved in a grim little smile. “No. Sleep dart.”

  “He’s going to be furious when he wakes up,” Rio said.

  “You’ll be long gone by that time.”

  “I wasn’t thinking of me.”

  Coryn shrugged. “I’ll manage.”

  Dani insisted on helping him to the ruin, where Coryn tried to push him down.

  “Damn it, Coryn—”

  “Please, Rio, let him help you,” Dani said softly. “I don’t know what to do for you.”

  With extreme reluctance, Rio lay back on the ground and yanked his soaking wet shirt free of his breeches to expose the stab wound on his belly.

  “That doesn’t look so bad…” Dani started, but trailed off as Coryn and Rio exchanged a worried look.

  “How deep?” Coryn asked.

  “Not sure,” Rio said.

  “Turn over.” Coryn helped Rio roll to his side, then peeled the wet shirt up to check his back. “He didn’t skewer you, at least.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?” Dani asked.

  Ice-blue eyes flicked in his direction and then back down to Rio. “Means there’s only one wound to worry about instead of two, but I can’t tell how bad it is. If he’s not bleeding inside, it might be all right. If he is…” He trailed off, then added, “Gut wounds are tricky.”

  “I’m fine,” Rio said, struggling to sit.

  “Want me to clean it for you?” Coryn offered.

  “No. If you want to be helpful, go find my horse. It’s that way, a little way into the woods.” Rio waved a hand toward the eastern side of the hill.

  Coryn cast him a doubtful look, but said only, “Come on, Danakho. Let’s go find his horse.”

  Rio waited until they’d gone to start digging through Dani’s saddlebags for the bandages. He dribbled water from one of the water skins over the wound and wiped it clean, then covered it with a length of bandage. It didn’t hurt much, but a wound didn’t have to hurt to be dangerous. Gut wounds were the worst. Without a healer, there was no way of knowing if he was bleeding inside.

  Time would tell. If he was lucky, he’d heal up with only minor discomfort… if not, he’d die a slow, painful death. They’d know which it was going to be soon enough. In the meantime, they needed to move out before Bajhan woke and came after them.

  Coryn was probably warning Dani about what to watch for right now, and scaring the piss out of him.

  “It’s fine,” he whispered to himself. “It’ll be fine.” He would make sure it was.

  He’d see Dani to safety if it killed him.

  * * *

  Dani’s head was spinning as he followed Coryn down the hill from the tower. In the span of a few minutes he’d gone from despair at being captured to elation at being rescued. Now, with Rio hurt, he was back to despair.

  He stumbled, and Coryn reached out to steady hi
m. “Are you all right? Bajhan didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “I’m not hurt.” It was a struggle to keep his voice from trembling. “I felt it, though, when Rio was wounded. I… I need a little time.”

  “Time is the one thing you don’t have,” Coryn said. “Bajhan will only be out for a few hours. You two need to get as much of a head start as you can.”

  Dani swallowed hard, realizing that with Rio wounded, it was up to him to see them safely to Altan. He took a few moments to compose himself, then squared his shoulders and said, “I’m not a healer. I don’t know how to take care of him.”

  “He’ll take care of himself,” Coryn said. “When he can’t, that’s when you need to worry.”

  “What do I do then?”

  Coryn’s smile was grim. “Pray to your gods, if you have any.”

  “Something useful,” Dani clarified.

  “Best thing you can do is find a healer. A real one — one who can weave the mythe — not one of the those herb witches Tallin calls healers. Here in Cathan, you should be able to find one. Most towns have one. Once he’s been seen to, get yourselves across the mountains. I’ll do what I can to stop Bajhan from following you.”

  “Leave Bajhan here,” Dani suggested. “Come with us.”

  “Can’t,” Coryn said, staring down at the ground.

  “What happens to you when he figures out you helped us?”

  “I can handle Bajhan.”

  “But—”

  “Keep an eye on him, Danakho. Get him out of this rain tonight, if you can. If he starts running a fever, that’s bad. If it goes high enough that he’s hallucinating, that’s worse. If that happens, without a healer, there’s nothing you can do except leave him behind and get yourself to safety.”

  “I’m not leaving him behind,” Dani said.

  There was a long silence before Coryn said, “You only have a few hours. I’ll hide any sign of your trail I come across, but Bajhan is determined to do his duty. It’s probably safest to assume we’re only hours behind you.”

  “I’ll be careful. But I’m not leaving Rio behind, no matter what happens.”

  Coryn’s pale eyes were full of shadows. “Move as fast as you can, Danakho. I don’t want to have to choose between the two of them.”