"You enjoy my disapproval," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
He changed the subject. "You will stay back here, surrounded by your friends?"
"She will," Najdan said from his lookout position nearby.
"Mirabar?" Baran prodded.
"Yes," she promised.
"You have a child to think about." Baran was thin-voiced and breathless. "Remember that she takes whatever risks you take... and she's taken enough of them lately. A father mustn't be too lenient about that kind of thing."
"I..." She reached out, took his hand, and placed it on her swelling belly. "What do you want me to tell her?"
"The truth," he said. "All of it." Baran shrugged. "She'd find out anyhow, I imagine." After a pause, he added, "Tell her I only regret the things which weren't my choice—and that includes never meeting her." When he heard Mirabar sniffle, he pulled his hand away and wondered irritably, "Where in the Fires is Tansen? I'd have stayed home in bed if I knew he was going to wait until this illness kills me before starting the attack."
Tansen said from somewhere in the dark, "Keep your voice down. People in Cavasar probably heard that."
"Finally," Baran murmured. "We were afraid you'd changed your mind and joined the enemy."
Mirabar heard Tansen's stealthy footsteps before she saw him, and she could only recognize him once he was very close. They wouldn't normally launch a surprise attack on a twin-moon night, but the lingering smoke and ash in the sky ensured that the light from the moons was dim. Now, even as she greeted Tansen, one of the moons disappeared behind another rain cloud.
Tansen squatted down beside them. "I don't think Kiloran knows anything's amiss yet, but we need to move right away. He has a relay system set up for regular reports from his sentries, and he'll be suspicious the moment the pattern is disrupted."
"Everyone's in position, then?" Najdan asked.
"Yes," Tansen replied. "Lann sent a runner asking how soon his men can start killing assassins. Pyron sent a runner complaining that his men have got the worst terrain and greatest number of obstacles. Vinn sent a runner saying he's getting bored."
Najdan replied dryly, "They sound ready."
"They are." Tansen asked Baran, "Are you?"
"I'm aflutter with girlish excitement," Baran assured him. "Velikar?"
As the Sister helped Baran to his feet, Tansen helped Mirabar to hers and said, "Use your judgment. When you think we're about halfway to the lake, start the attack. The men will go into action when they see your signal."
"Please come back." Her voice broke as she clung to his hands.
"If we don't succeed," he said, returning her grip, "go straight back to Belitar. Immediately."
"Tansen, don't say—"
"You understand how important it is that you live," he persisted, freeing one hand to touch her stomach gently. "Not just to me, kadriah, but to her. To Gaborian. To the future."
"I do wish," Baran said, "you'd remember that's my wife you're handling so casually."
Tansen froze for a moment. Then, very deliberately, he leaned forward and kissed Mirabar on the mouth.
Rather predictably, Baran laughed.
"Let's go," Tansen ordered Baran.
"I do feel," the waterlord said, "that we've grown closer through these hardships, don't you?"
"And try not to talk," Tansen added. "I'm feeling irritable."
"Before we part," Baran said to Mirabar, "I would like to ask one burning question. What in the world do you see in him?"
She touched Baran's cheek. "I suspect you'll survive this and live long enough to torment me while I'm in labor."
He grinned and, to her surprise, kissed her hand before turning to go. A moment later, he disappeared into the dark with Tansen.
"One really cannot blame Kiloran," said Najdan, "for having spent the past fifteen years trying to kill him."
The first sentry report of the night had failed to arrive.
"You seem worried," his son said.
Kiloran replied, "A waterlord can never afford to be lazy, complacent, or careless. Especially not in times like these." He looked at Zarien. "Rather than send men in search of my missing sentries, to suffer an ambush in their turn, we will prepare for attack."
Zarien's eyes widened. "You really think we're about to be attacked. Here? This place seems as if no one could—"
"They can't, but I will be surprised if they're not about to try." He placed a hand on Zarien's shoulder, sensing the boy stiffen slightly as he did so. "You're frightened."
"Yes," Zarien said, nodding slowly. "I am."
Kiloran sighed. "I had hoped that some lingering sentiment for you, some remnant of fatherly feeling, might have prevented Tansen from doing this."
"He doesn't know I'm here," Zarien protested.
"Oh, I imagine he does." He shook his head. "I had also hoped that even if proper feeling didn't prevent him from attacking, then Baran would stop him. But Baran is weakening rapidly. He may be too feeble even to interfere with Tansen now. That power which I told you is cooperating with Baran to fight me for the Idalar River and the mines of Alizar... It's ascendant now. There's been a shift in the past few days. I can feel it. It's as if Baran can no longer hold on."
"Baran? But..." Zarien looked puzzled for a moment, then he drew in a sharp breath. "You told him I'm here."
"Yes, in a letter," Kiloran replied. "And unlike Tansen, Baran is sentimental."
"You thought Baran would interfere with any plans to attack Kandahar—"
"Plans which Tansen was bound to make very soon."
"—because I'm Alcinar's son."
"It seemed a wise precaution. Unfortunately, it appears to have been a wasted effort."
"And since Tansen expected to find me at Belitar—"
"He'll know by now that you're here." Kiloran paused to make his next point crystal clear. "And Tansen is probably attacking us tonight."
Zarien looked horrified and turned away. Kiloran watched sympathetically. Betrayal was indeed a terrible wound, and Tansen had the habit of inflicting it on those who'd loved him.
Baran's insides churned like liquid fire. His legs trembled with weakness. His vision blurred. He felt Tansen's hand on his arm, partially supporting him, partially dragging him. He wanted to say caustic things, but he didn't have the strength.
Then he felt a sudden explosion of power all around him and drew in sharp breath of revolted surprise.
Tansen whispered, "What's wrong?"
He didn't need to answer. Tansen saw, as he did, pillars of fire start shooting up from a dozen different places in the dark. Then more. Then still more. The Guardians had commenced the attack and would now try to overrun Kandahar with their power. The flames shot so high up that loyalists positioned all around Kiloran's vast territory would see it, even if they were a day's journey away, and begin their attacks, too. Now Baran perceived more sky-reaching fire in the distance, as other hidden groups of Guardians saw the initial signal, passed it on, and commenced their own skirmishes.
"I hope," Baran said weakly, "that Kiloran finds this much fire magic as nauseating as I do."
"We've got to keep going," Tansen said, pulling Baran's arm over his shoulder. "You've got to approach the lake while he's distracted, before he realizes you're here."
Baran staggered along at the shatai's punishing pace, letting Tansen carry half his weight, concentrating hard on moving his feet in some semblance of walking.
He felt the power emanating from Kandahar already, and it got stronger as he approached it. It couldn't obliterate the appalling feel of fire magic closing in from every direction—honestly, he'd vomit again if this kept up—but it was nonetheless monumental, extraordinary, and wonderfully cold. It invigorated him, even cleared his head.
This icy, pure power which he and Kiloran commanded began seducing him all over again as he approached the place where he had first learned to master it. And the thought of finally confronting that vicious old reptile in all-ou
t, unrestrained, mortal combat... Yes, it almost made him feel renewed.
I should have done this years ago, he realized.
"I feel him," Baran murmured to Tansen. "Oh, I feel the old man now. All of his strength. Right here."
Tansen released him, and Baran sank to his knees, smelling the scent of the water. Feeling it warn him away, so well protected by its master. Hearing it lapping at the shore.
Lake Kandahar, where Alcinar had been held prisoner.
"I couldn't do it then," he said grimly, "but I can do it now. I have learned so much since then."
"I hope you're right," Tansen said. "Zarien's life depends on it."
"Yours, too," Baran said with a nasty smile. "Now aren't you sorry you tried to seduce my wife right in front of me?"
"I've already seduced your wife," Tansen replied. "Now wouldn't you like me to survive long enough for you to punish me as I deserve?"
"Mirabar was unfaithful?" Baran shook his head. "No one has any standards anymore."
"What do we do?" Tansen prodded impatiently.
Baran rose slowly to his feet, then moved toward the water. He felt the deadly chill and said, "Don't touch it. Not yet."
"Baran, wait, what are you—"
Baran ignored him, wading into the dark lake which Kiloran had ruled, unchallenged, for so many years.
"He knows you're attacking," Baran said over his shoulder to Tansen. "He knows you're here."
"How do you know?"
"Remember the mines of Alizar? He's doing the same thing here."
"Making the water so cold it'll kill anyone who touches it?"
"He's protecting his home from the attack. Protecting Zarien. But if I can reverse what he's done..." He smiled sweetly at the shatai. "I hope you can swim?"
"Guardians."
"Where?" Zarien asked, his heart pounding.
Kiloran looked even paler than usual. "Everywhere. All around us. Pushing into my territory. A huge number of them."
"Siran," one of the assassins said, "I want to join the battle!"
"Yes, take everyone with you except those four." Kiloran gestured to the men he meant. "They will stay here to guard my son."
"Surely no one can get inside the palace?" Zarien asked.
"No, but I do not intend to leave you unguarded, even so."
As Kiloran turned to leave him, Zarien said, "Where are you going?"
"Up to the surface. This is a battle. I need to see what's happening in order to fight our enemies most effectively."
"I want to come, too," Zarien said quickly.
"No, you'll be safer here."
"But I—"
"No," Kiloran said. "Stay here, with these four men."
Zarien nearly protested again, but he saw the look in Kiloran's eyes and held his silence.
Tansen waited until Baran told him it was safe, then he waded into Lake Kandahar, his flesh crawling as he did so.
"Faster," Baran chided. "I don't think he's noticed me amidst all the fire magic yet, but he will any moment."
This is even worse than jumping into the gorge below Geriden's house was.
But Zarien was down there, so Tansen took a deep breath and dived for the center of the lake. Once again, he wished he'd asked his son for swimming lessons. Fortunately, there were no strong currents here. But the lake was deep, dark, cold, and terrifying—he'd have been scared even if there weren't a waterlord somewhere in this lake eager to kill him. However, he'd survived this journey once before, albeit as a captive—when he'd returned Armian's shir to Kiloran—so he didn't turn back, not even when his lungs felt close to bursting.
And then he saw it—the glow of light from the underwater palace. By now, his whole body ached with the need to breathe and he feared his lungs would reflexively gulp for air at any moment. Desperate to inhale, he headed for the glowing dome directly beneath him, letting the weight of his swords and his boots help carry him there as his arms pushed water behind him.
He hesitated briefly when he reached the palace ceiling. There were figures below him. People moving around.
They've seen me.
He couldn't hesitate. Surprise was his only weapon against Kiloran now. He unsheathed his swords and tumbled through the domed ceiling as if it were made of... water.
The floor, however, felt as if it were made of crystal, and hitting it knocked the wind out of him.
Tansen heard Zarien scream, "No!" and rolled to defend himself just as two assassins jumped him. He killed one of them instantly, but the fall had disoriented him enough that the other made a deep slash in his shoulder before Tansen parried the blow and slit his throat.
"Stop!" Zarien shouted.
He was on his feet as two more men circled him. Only two, he saw to his relief. He made them retreat with a flurry of thrusts, and used the moment to look around. They were in the main hall, where Kiloran had once nearly killed him; and Kiloran was nowhere in sight.
"Don't! No!" Zarien cried.
Make it fast, he thought, and get out of here.
He attacked, making one of the assassins fall over Kiloran's gaudy chair, which gave him time to kill the other one. Then he beheaded the assassin who was recovering his balance.
Only when they were all four dead did he feel the intense pain of the shir wound one of them had just inflicted. He turned to Zarien, his heart racing, his lungs still aching, and his body protesting that hard fall.
Kiloran, who was too old for steep climbs, let a large bubble of water carry him to the surface. He was only halfway there when he realized what else was invading his territory besides fire magic.
Baran.
He knew the flavor of Baran's reckless talent too well to mistake it now.
So that's why Baran had let his ally, whoever it was, completely take over their battle for Alizar and the Idalar. Not because he was nearly dead, but because he was concentrating his remaining strength on violating Kandahar tonight.
Kiloran felt a moment of elation as he realized he would finally get to kill Baran, who'd been fool enough to return to Kandahar after all these years.
The moment was short-lived, though. All that Guardian magic! The sudden assault, on such a huge scale. He should have realized it was Tansen's plan, designed to confuse Kiloran's senses long enough to keep him from sensing that Baran was here... until Baran had had time to remove the deadly, flesh-killing chill from the lake.
Zarien.
The boy was no longer protected. The lake was vulnerable, and so was the palace.
Was Tansen already in the lake? In the palace? He couldn't tell. Baran's power was now assaulting his domain, trying to pull Kandahar away from his command, and the fire magic everywhere was corrupting his senses.
The one thing Kiloran couldn't afford to lose was his son, his heir, his future. Zarien might be able to protect himself with his power, but they hadn't actually practiced any such skills yet. Therefore, saving the boy from Tansen must be Kiloran's first priority, even above the battle raging for control of his entire territory.
As for Baran... Did that madman really think he could invade Kiloran's domain and survive? Did he think Kiloran had never prepared for the assault of another waterlord?
As Kiloran commanded the water to take him back down to his palace to protect his son, he closed his eyes, ignored the clamoring of fire magic spreading rapidly through his territory, and called upon the darkest, strongest power of a waterlord: the White Dragon which guarded Kandahar against the attack of another waterlord.
Kill Baran, he commanded his watery offspring in silence. He has finally come home, so we can kill him, at last.
Tansen's eyes met Zarien's. The boy looked shocked and horrified. He was also, Tansen realized with a sick feeling, backing away from him.
Tansen said, "Let's go."
Zarien's gaze dropped to the swords in his hands. Tansen looked down and saw they were drenched in blood. He didn't even bother to flip it off, simply resheathed them as they were, though he supposed he'
d regret that later.
"Zarien," he said calmly, trying to break through the boy's evident shock. "We're leaving."
Zarien froze. He looked confused. "We... You... you came..."
Tansen prodded. "Now, Zarien."
"Are you... Why are..."
Suddenly, he just snapped. Simply couldn't focus anymore. Whether it was the way Zarien was backing away, or the shocked expression on the boy's face, or his own fear, he didn't know; but Tansen completely lost control of himself. He forgot how much danger they were in, forgot about the battle. All at once, he couldn't think of anything but how incredibly, blood-boilingly furious he was with his son.
"And you," he informed Zarien in harsh tones, "are in so much trouble! What did you think you were doing? Running away like that! And coming here, of all places!"
"I... I'm..."
"Najdan is right!" Tansen shouted, heedless of who might hear. "I should beat you! And don't think I won't!"
"I didn't... I couldn't..."
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" he raged. "When will you learn to think before you act? Anything could have happened to you! Anything could still happen to you! Do you ever think?"
"I'm... I'm..."
"What?" he snarled.
"I'm sorry!"
"Well, that's hardly helpful right now, is it?" Tansen snapped.
Tears welled up in those dark eyes and started to slide down that young, tattooed face. Zarien brushed them aside. "I didn't know what to do," he choked out. "I was afraid... I thought you'd hate me..."
Tansen closed his eyes and tried to control the torrent of anger. "And you thought I'd kill you? Zarien, is that really what you thought?"
"I don't know. At the time, you seemed so... I don't know!"
"But no doubt he's been telling you I'd kill you."
The boy suddenly stumbled towards him, panic replacing the confusion, sorrow, and guilt. "He'll kill you if he finds out you're here! You've got to go!"
"We've got to go," Tansen corrected. "I'm not leaving without you."
Zarien looked at him darkly. "Do you just want to take me from him?"
The Destroyer Goddess Page 54