by Darcy Sweet
He was not happy and I was about to join him—as the instrument of burning death—and his father at some kind of War Council. I looked down at the flushed face of Hatha. She shot me a knowing look. My brief interlude was over. There was no more time for pleasure.
Chapter 10
The War Council was held at Roth’s tent. Not surprisingly it was three times the size of my own. As the guards drew back the tent flap to let me in I saw Roth, Nadar, Astrid and Valco. Two others, both men also sat at the table. I knew neither their names nor their faces.
I barely listened as Roth introduced his Generals to me; I had eyes alone for Nadar, who had yet to look in my direction.
“Why is she here?” Astrid asked as I took my seat.
“We need her,” Roth answered.
“Yes Sire we do, but should she sit here amongst us?” Astrid looked so incredulous at the thought of me joining her at the table that I snapped, “Should I sit on the floor then Astrid? Like a pet dog?”
Astrid rose to the bait. “That would do fine. You are little more than a pet. Chosen.”
“Enough!” Roth did not yell but his tone was harsh enough for us all to understand the argument was now over. “She stays because I say so.”
“Yes Sire,” Astrid demurred with a deferential nod of her head.
“With no further interruption.” Roth gave a pointed glance at Astrid. “We begin. He nodded down the table. “Report.”
The uniformed General at the end of the table rose to speak. “The prisoner has offered no further information. He is stronger than he looks.”
Prisoner?
“Bring him forth to me now. Let’s see how strong he is at the hands of a Master.”
Two of the guard flanking the table left to get the prisoner. The man at the end continued his report, talking of troop numbers in provinces that I had never heard of, I only half listened, watching Nadar instead.
He was intractable. His face a mask of intent calm. Despite my attempt to get his attention he remained fixed upon the proceedings.
Light danced from the guards' lanterns as they reentered the tent. Shadows cast on the canvas walls opposite of a man dragged on his knees. I shifted in my seat to look as Roth stood and strode over to the prisoner.
A flash of blond was all I saw as Roth dragged the prisoner to his feet. He held him up in one hand as if he were the weight of an infant and bared his teeth. His fangs descended and his face became a chilling mask of pain.
If it wasn’t for the grin I would never have recognized him. His face was so badly battered it resembled a side of beef more than the fresh young beauty of a teenage Sarran.
“Askel!” I jumped to my feet and ran to him. I was faster than the guards and had my hand at his arm before they dragged me back.
I batted away their hands. “Release him. Release him at once.”
Astrid joined the guards holding me back. She stabbed a finger at me and then towards Askel. “See why she should not be here. She worries for this Sarran pig when if she were truly loyal she would join us in his torture and get the information we need.”
“Torture? You will not. You will NOT torture him.” The glassware on the council table shook with the force of my voice.
Roth dropped Askel and the young Sarran crumpled in a heap at his boots. Fangs still pointing over his snarling mouth, he turned to me. He did not speak, instead he stared at me. I watched the rise and fall of his chest, unable to meet his black eyes.
“You do as she demands? Is she in charge now?” Astrid tried to reach me but was held back by her brother.
“Forgive her Sire. She still suffers from what happened to our Mother.”
“What happened?” I asked.
Valco looked at me. “We lost her at the hands of Lord Malchard after she refused to divulge our whereabouts.” His head dropped down. “We are told it took a week for her to die.”
I shook my head, incredulous. “She was tortured? Tortured to death and you do this now to him? What makes you any better than Malchard? Any of you who stand by and watch this happen. Let this happen.” I directed the last of my words to Nadar who was still seated at the War Council table. He briefly met my angry glare and then looked away.
“Who is this Sarran to you?” Roth asked. His fangs had receded and he seemed calm. The cool indifference of his features worried me more than his snarl. “We found him with the seal of the Queen. With her consent to enter the Palace. Who is he?”
I did not know how to answer. If I told the truth there was no way Roth would stop hurting. If I admitted what Askel had done Roth would kill him. I did not get a chance to answer. From swollen, blood cracked lips of Askel came the answer I had been unable to give. “I took her from the Sarran. Abducted her from the Coven Keep to give to Lord Malchard.”
“You what?” Roth’s rage was low and vicious. His face did not change, no outward sign did he give of his fury but the anger pouring from him was palpable. I could taste it like the cold bite of metal.
“I took the Vessel to her Uncle and cousin; they had the links to take her to Malchard for Beatrix.”
Roth had Askel’s shirt held in his fist in the blink of an eye. “What did Beatrix want with my Chosen?”
I was not certain until that point that Roth did not know of my tethering mark. He would never have asked such a question if he knew. Askel knew it too. He looked at me. Held tight in Roth’s grip he swung like a marionette as his bruised face tried to turn to mine.
“Look at me,” Roth hissed, but Askel refused to heed his words and turned to face me. I saw the question in his swollen eyes. I answered with an almost imperceptible shake of my head.
Askel turned back to face Roth. “I do not know.”
“He lies. He lies.” Astrid came forward, struggling free of the guards who held her to plant a vicious kick at Askels legs. “ He knows. He is in league with the Sarran bitch. Kill him.”
“No. No don’t. Please Master.” I fell to my knees. It was the first time I had willingly done so for Roth. He dropped Askel, letting him fall to the packed earth floor with a thump.
“You beg for his life my chosen? Why? As I heard him just confess to abducting you I must admit I find your pleas for mercy most confusing.”
I came up to my feet and stepped forward. “Yes, he did take me from the Sarran with the knowledge that I was to be delivered to Beatrix, but he did so to bargain for the freedom of his people. It was foolish. It was wrong, but I find it hard to judge him for his motives. He was good to me. Never cruel and my sister…”
Askel broke in, “Leia. How fares she? Is she well?”
I smiled down at him. “She is well. Better than well. My handmaiden has eased her cough. She breathes easily.”
“I’m so pleased. So pleased to hear that Mistress.” He smiled. Bruised and battered, in fear of his life, his first thought was to the welfare of my sister, and myself. He had not revealed the tether mark. He could have sought to barter his freedom with such information. Instead he protected me.
“Oh, this is all so touching my Prince, shall I call for tea and cakes?” Astrid’s voice dripped with sarcasm. She moved to kick Askel once more. I caught her foot before she did and pulled her off balance. She toppled to the ground.
“You bitch. You dare!” Astrid did not get the chance to rise. A nod from Roth to the guards had them surrounding me in the blink of an eye. As Roth took a menacing step towards her, I reached through the phalanx of my guards to grab his arm. He turned to me. I mouthed, “Mercy.”
He stared at me for some time before finally nodding and moving to stand before the prostrate Astrid. He looked over the top of her, directing his words to her brother, “Valco, control your sister.” Valco nodded and Roth looked down at Astrid. “Take your seat now Astrid. See how I show you mercy? Remember this. Do not speak again or you will regret it. Make a move on my Chosen once more and you will leave without your hands. Do you understand?”
Astrid, released from the fog of her ang
er, realized the mistake she had just made. On her knees she bowed so low her forehead scraped the dirt. “Forgive me my Prince. Forgive me.”
Valco came behind to help her up. He dragged her up against him. She rested her head on his chest a moment before taking his arm to walk back to the table. I had a brief stab of envy at their mutual comfort and then chided myself for such an indulgence.
“Remove the prisoner.”
I was still closeted in the circle of guards, their arms held out in defensive position. I batted away their hands and tried to get to Askel. “Where? Where will he go?”
No one answered me and as Askel was taken from the tent I repeated, “Where has he gone?”
Roth still did not answer me, moving to sit back at the head of the table. I too went back to my place but did not sit “Where do you take the prisoner Master? Will he be safe?”
“I will not have him killed.”
“Not killed? Will he be hurt? Will you let my sister tend him?”
“Enough Chosen. Be seated.”
I did not sit. Roth did not answer my questions. We remained locked, two stubborn souls staring, waiting for the other to concede. “Sire, please.”
Nadar ended the standoff. “Talia, he will be safe. I will take Leia to him later.”
I looked at Roth to check if Nadar’s words were true. He gave a slight nod. I sat.
“Sire,” Valco spoke, his hand laying gently on his sister’s arm. “While Astrid did not comport herself well, I must also add my concerns for the Vessel’s loyalty. Her affection for the Sarran is not a good sign.”
“It is a perfect sign.” It was Nadar, not Roth who answered Valco. “The Vessel was never meant to be a tool. She was always a balance. A voice of reason, of truth of integrity. I think we have seen that today, have we not Father?”
“We have seen enough,” Roth answered cryptically. Nadar’s words seemed to end the meeting. “The Council is dismissed.”
I watched open mouthed as Roth left the room with his guard and the two Generals from the end of the table.
* * * *
When I returned to my tent I was surprised to find Hatha waiting for me, fresh faced and clear of all bruising.
“Hatha…your face?”
She smiled. “I think we can add instrument of healing to your repertoire Mistress.”
I stroked a finger in wonder across the smooth skin. “Askel,” I whispered.
“Askel? What of him?” Hatha said with a frown.
“He is here. Badly beaten. Close to death I suspect. I just stopped Roth from killing him.”
“Why?” Hatha’s stern face reminded me of the menacing bat I had once thought her to be.
I laughed. “I stopped him because it is not right. And you know it. Askel was just a foolish boy Hatha. A tool of Haakon and Audhild. He does not deserve to die for it. He kept Leia safe from Bandar. I owe him his life for that.”
“Fine then. Let him have his life, but stay in pain.”
I laughed again. “Oh you are an angel of mercy aren’t you my handmaiden?” I took her in a hug.
I was holding her to me, kissing her newly healed cheek when I heard Nadar’s voice from the door. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m interrupting, I didn’t realize…”
He was blushing. He held a lantern at his chest and I could see the bright flush of embarrassment on his pale face. I released Hatha, who gave me a slight nod and shifted to the door to slip past Nadar.
“You’re not interrupting. Please. Come in.”
He entered, placing the lantern on a stool beside the opening of the tent. I motioned to the pallet of rugs. “I’ve nowhere to sit, but we could, if you wanted…”
“It’s fine. Yes. I’ll…”
I sat down. He broke off his stuttered polite sentence and sat opposite me, cross legged. The soft leather of his breeches stretched tight across his muscled thighs. We stared at each other, neither speaking. I drank him in, from the soft fall of his silver mane down to the supple leather of his black boots. Everywhere but his eyes. I did not risk falling into those silver rimmed pools.
“Did you have a message from Roth?” I suddenly asked, desperate for this awkward meeting to be over. It was of course the wrong thing to say. He stiffened, his shoulders jerking and tensing. I briefly looked up and saw the anger and hurt etched on his face.. “Nadar, I did not mean…” I broke off and looked away.
“I know. Talia.” He sighed. “I know you are for my Father. I know this.”
It was the wrong thing for him to say. I bristled at the assumption. “I am for myself. No one else Nadar. I will make my own choices.”
“Will you?” The soft yearning of his voice compelled me to turn to him and at once I was lost in those eyes.
“Nadar…
He was up on his knees and leaning over me before I could speak. Not that I knew what I was going to say. There was something about him that dissolved my conscious thought, that removed the world and filled me only with him. His mouth came over mine and his hand cradled the back of my head. Before he kissed me he just looked, looked at me with such wonder and reverence that I thought my heart would melt and seep out through my skin.
“I am lost,” he murmured, “Lost.”
I was lost with him, the moment his lips slid over mine. No burning heat, no magic in this kiss, just comfort, warm deep comfort. I felt as if I had known him for all time, as if we had kissed for centuries. His taste I had always known. It was mapped in my blood, in the tracks of my veins.
“Talia,” his lips played my name like a revelation.
Dissipated I sank. I felt myself dissolve, melt down to the rug to lay beneath his hard body. He rocked against me. Hard against soft. Stiff against wet. I spread my legs. The soft fabric of my skirts riding up my calves with each thrust of his hips. I was close, close to release when he backed away. I felt the loss of his body like a blast of cold air.
“Nadar?” I pulled myself up on one elbow, rolling on my side to look at him as he backed away in a crouch.
“I came to talk. Just to talk to you.”
I cleared my throat. “Then talk.”
“You are The Vessel.”
I nodded.
“You are my father’s Chosen.”
I nodded again.
“You were on your way to the Night Palace when you were found. Were you going back to him? Will you submit to him? Will you become a Vandarran Vessel?”
“Do you ask? Or do you ask for your father?”
“Does it matter?”
It did. We both knew it did.
“You have no choice but to submit.” It seemed to me that he spoke not to convince me, but himself.
“What do you want Nadar? What do you want with me?”
“I want a free Vessel. My mother gave up her power for love. I cannot ask that of another.” He shook his head. “I will not claim that of another.”
Claim? Did he wish to claim me? Joy and fear struck in equal parts. “Does it have to be that way?”
“It is the Vandarran way.”
I sat up, shifting forward on my knees to lean into him. “But you are Sarran too.”
He stood. “Not Sarran enough,” he said with bitterness. “I have to go.” Nadar paused at the tent flap, lantern in hand. “Askel is housed in the stable tent. Your sister tends him this night. She has asked that you come to them both in the morning.”
“Will you take me there?’
He shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. “I can take you nowhere. Nowhere.”
Before I could ask his meaning he had left. It was only after he had gone and I felt the twinge of my tether mark that I realized I had felt no pain in his presence. I wondered on it, meaning to ask Hatha on her return, but instead lost the battle with exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 11
The next morning I went with Hatha to find Askel. He was guarded in the stable tent. The horses had been removed to pasture for the day so while the tent had the aroma of a stable
there were no actual horses.
The straw floor was fresh and it had been cleaned as well as a stable could. Roth was fond of his mounts. I knew that they lived a far more luxurious life than the average Vandarran peasant.
Askel was huddled in a corner, his head cradled in Leia’s lap. Hatha, in her own special way, bullied the guards to leave, making them remain outside the tent during our visit.
“Leia,” Hatha said as soon as the guards had departed, “come with me. We’ll gather herbs for a soothing tea.”
Leia shook her head, looking down at Askel’s bruised face. “I should not leave him.”
“I will care for him sister,” I said.
She met my eyes. Wary. I saw her hesitation. She did not trust me with his safety.
It was Askel who made the decision. “Go,” he croaked.
“I won’t be long,” she murmured, laying his head gently on a rolled horseblanket.
She watched me the whole way to the tent flap, pausing at the exit as if she might return. It took the tug of Hatha’s hand to get her to finally leave.
“Mistress?”
I stared intently at him, wondering how to start. The healing had come so easily with Hatha. I did not know what to do. He was laying on his back, his head propped up on the blanket roll. His shirt was half open and I could see a mess of yellow, purple and green marks. “You look like a sick rainbow Askel. Or a half rotten fruit.”
He chuckled and then winced at the movement.
“Are you in much pain?”
He put on a brave face, as brave as a face that battered could be.