The Swithin Chronicles 3: The Comet Cometh

by Sharon Maria Bidwell

  Uly frowned, wondering why Markis had told them not to feed him meat. Then he remembered the insects Ryanac had shown him in the forest, and he understood the specifications. Of course, that brought forth the memory of that day in vivid colours. He would never see Ryanac again, and as the portal faded, he barely managed to hold on to a last glimpse of Markis.

  * * * * *

  “Kilan?”

  “No.” Markis paced, aware of five pairs of eyes in the room watching him, grateful they could talk without hindrance due to Kilan’s absence. Harton had intended to escort the healer out, but she had asked to stay, and Markis had allowed it. He trusted her, mainly because his father never had. Perhaps not a good enough reason, but he preferred his instincts. Ryanac made no dispute of her presence; they might have use of her skills, and she had seen too much already. Best they kept her close. She also seemed to offer Tressa some comfort, and he was aware of how Tressa must feel, surrounded by so many large men. Meira kept glancing at Ryanac until Tressa looked at her. Meira stared back. At least it took her mind off Ryanac. The woman had slapped at him as they rose from behind the couch. Apparently, he had pressed her to his naked chest all the while, and Meira didn’t appreciate a hand over her mouth. She had told him in no uncertain terms she would have bitten him if not afraid he would yell. She was not a child, she said, who didn’t know when to be quiet. Hiding was the right time for such a thing. As far as everyone outside of this room was concerned, Ryanac was dead, and that was to their advantage. They had hidden from those on the other side of the portal.

  Markis’s “no” had been in reply to Ryanac’s question over whether Kilan was involved.

  “Then Mairtin.”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there any way to find out if he’s where he should be?”

  Markis sniggered. “Not without him knowing I’m looking.”

  “Not that it would make a great deal of difference.”

  “No, but it’s a waste of resources. It would prove nothing, and I cannot openly accuse him.”

  Meira looked at all their faces in turn, then at Markis. “Forgive me, but am I the only one missing something? What was that thing?”

  He didn’t need anyone to speak to know some of the others felt wary of her question. He didn’t have time to calm them, to soothe prejudices his father had once demonstrated. “It’s a portal. Only one who has the power of the comet can do such a thing.”

  “Not even then without access to certain knowledge. You can’t afford to be wrong.” Ryanac’s statement dropped into the conversation like a stone.

  Markis shifted his gaze to his friend. For the first time since he was poisoned, Ryanac looked like…well, like Ryanac. He had a bright determination in his eyes that Markis only noticed now because it had so recently been lacking. This was the spirit of the man, and he was glad to see it returning. Only four people had looked at the book since Uly had stolen it for him. That included him, Ryanac, Uly, and Kilan. Without the book, no one would know such a thing was possible.

  “It didn’t feel like Kilan’s energy. I can’t say it felt like Mairtin’s. I don’t know what he feels like.” He gazed at the sea of questioning faces. Only Ryanac knew what was going on. He sighed. “Don’t interrupt me. There’s a book I shouldn’t have, according to certain sources. I’ve learned a lot from it, mainly how to control the comet and what the power is truly capable of doing. That includes a certain amount of healing, though I prefer to keep that secret. The type of damage I can heal varies, and it takes its toll on me. So far, I’ve used it…selfishly. For personal reasons.”

  Meira shrugged. “Any healer has to make a choice who to save sometimes. Mostly we try to do it objectively, rationally. Between a younger man and an older one I loved, I’d save the one I loved. Where is it written that Shavar stops being human?”

  Smiling at her, Markis nodded in gratitude. He noticed Tressa smiling at the taller woman.

  “Stargazer?” Ryanac just had to ask, but he was right. Everyone in this room had a right to know.

  “It’s so obvious I’d like to be mistaken, but I know he’s involved in this. He’s the one I took the book from,” Markis admitted to the others. “He also spent a great deal of time with Mairtin while I was at the academy, until my father sent him to oversee my training with the comet. There’s no knowing what happened during that time.”

  “Why should such a man have the right to keep a book about the comet from Shavar?” Harton enquired.

  “My father never saw such a book?” Markis believed not, but Harton’s question prompted him to ask.

  Harton hesitated, and Markis took it that the man felt more than a little annoyed with the idea of Lerai possibly having kept secrets from him. “If he had, I’m sure he would have healed your mother.”

  “As I said, the power varies. It might not have been possible.” Probably not, as her death was one of illness, but he hadn’t the heart to explain or the time to try. Even knowing he would fail, Markis would have tried.

  “If Stargazer has a hand in this, we should question him,” Meira said.

  “We should, but we can’t.”

  “We cannot?” Tressa looked at him.

  “Not without proof.” This was the first time Uly’s Sonndre had spoken aloud. Antal was older than his years.

  Markis sighed. “If I accuse him, I have to admit to taking the book.”

  “You would do that for Uly, though,” Tressa said.

  “I would, if it would do any good. Stargazer will use it as an excuse to retrieve the book and tie everything up in argument for days. That won’t get me Uly’s safe return.”

  “He’ll have to admit to keeping it from you.”

  “What would that matter if others on the council already know?” Markis was aware he sounded bitter. “As I believe a very few do. Then those that don’t will waste time arguing with those that do. I believe Stargazer convinced his followers that what they do, they do for Shavar’s own good. Someone convinced them when my father ruled, and the same thing obviously happened to his father before him. No one man should have the power I have, not truly. No one man should have the power to dictate and dominate the rest of the council, but I believe Stargazer does. He at least rules them enough to delay things, and that I cannot afford. If I take him into custody, it will upset them. Mairtin no doubt knows I’m aware of his part in this. That’s why he provided this little demonstration. I cannot let my suspicions delay things. Mairtin would know that. I can’t do anything that would impede his wishes. I can’t do anything that will throw light on the book. Not yet. That’s why he took Uly. This is his delay, his way of forcing me to wait, to risk no more than a normal search and keep my accusations quiet until the book is out of reach and I have no proof.”

  “I would exchange the book and then use the comet to kill him.”

  This was the first time Tressa had said something that sounded remotely stupid, even if he did appreciate her reasoning. “How can I do that? I have no wish to kill my brother even if I don’t particularly like him, unless he forces me to it. Once accomplished, even the Swithin will look to their Shavar for an explanation. Without one, I will have committed a crime. The only way I can rule as a criminal is to rule by force, and I will not do that.”

  “You would hand yourself over? How can they punish a man with so much power?”

  “By death.”

  “You would let them kill you?” Tressa looked completely perplexed. “Surely a man who could stop such a thing and still let it happen would be too good a man to commit such a crime in the first place?”

  “Your thinking would give some people pause. Others would view it as remorse. But no. I’d not give up my life. I would have to leave, go into exile. I would not go willingly, although ‑‑”

  “We would go with you,” Ryanac interrupted.

  “I know.” Yes, Uly and Ryanac would follow him. They would have little choice, but that’s not why they would follow him. The idea was even tempting. Marki
s ignored the teasing amusement in the big man’s eyes. He spoke to his wife. “You see now what having one man with so much power does to the people he rules over? The people love Shavar. They also fear him.”

  “Then they do not know you.”

  She said it with such assurance that Markis gaped. The compliments were coming thick and fast today. He looked around at them all and saw faith, trust, and love, in various proportions.

  “Why keep a book you never intend anyone to read?”

  “For historical reasons,” Antal murmured in answer to Meira’s question. “Or because you’re waiting for the right person you think is fit to read it.”

  “If Stargazer thinks that man is Mairtin, he’s crazy.” Ryanac met Markis’s gaze. “I’ve read some of it, and you’re the only man I know I would trust it to.” Markis had never received such a direct compliment from Ryanac in front of so many others. His face felt warm. “I hate to say it, but in a peculiar way, Stargazer is right. No Shavar should have the book without others to guide him.”

  “Which is what the council was for.” Antal sounded suitably angry and disgusted.

  “You’ll hear no argument from me.”

  Antal looked from Ryanac to Markis. “So the comet can do other things, like the portal.”

  “Yes. I’ve never tried it, though I’ve read the passage.”

  “Can you step through it?” Antal sounded hopeful.

  “No. It’s not an opening. It’s more like an image sent long distance from one mind to another. I’m not even sure it would work without a Shavar at either end.” This was the reason he knew the person involved had to be Mairtin, for Kilan was here in the palace.

  “Bugger,” Antal remarked. “I was hoping we could gain some advantage.” He looked up, clearly startled when Markis laughed.

  “There is something I can tell you.” The king lifted his head, his gaze wandering over the ceiling, although that wasn’t where he looked. “Uly is…not that far away.”

  “Be more specific.”

  He should have known to expect that remark from Ryanac. “I can’t. Not yet.”

  “You might be able to, though?”

  Much of this conversation had to be lost on most of them in the room, but to their credit, they only asked pertinent questions, which meant hardly any. Markis would tell them what to do, and they would do it. “Given a few quiet moments, I’m certain of it,” he replied.

  “Then you shall have it,” Tressa stood up. “I will talk to the council and tell them that during this difficult time, I will see any petitioners, and even council members will have to come through me to see you. Any disputes I cannot deal with, I will set aside to await your advice. I will keep everyone away from you. Markis, you will locate Uly, and Ryanac will rescue him. He will take Meira and Harton with him. I am sorry, Antal.” She turned her gaze to the young man. “I know you want to go, but it will be too obvious. I also need someone by my side to make certain the council takes me at my word. You may be young,” she said, as if she were not young herself, “but I am certain you can do it. If this Kita gets in touch again, Markis will bargain with him and make it appear as though he is doing everything as they wish it.” She turned back to her husband. “That is the plan, is it not?”

  Markis gaped, and then closed his mouth with a snap. “Ryanac is too sick.” He said the words without thinking. Ryanac swore softly, but clearly enough for all to hear. His eyes were bright.

  “I promised him,” he said meaningfully.

  “You need time to recover.”

  “Time we do not have,” Tressa reminded him. “That is why Meira will go with him and Harton as his second sword.”

  “Ryanac is Silas,” Antal added. “No man can navigate the woods as he can.”

  “How do you know he’s in the woods? I haven’t even located him yet,” Markis said. Antal rolled his eyes at him, and shared a glance with Ryanac. They clearly knew something he didn’t. It made Markis feel insignificant.

  “Didn’t you hear the birds singing?”

  He hadn’t. He had tried to pick up something, but all he had seen was a dirty room with Uly trapped in it. It had taken Markis some time to realise that it reminded him of a vague dream he’d had some weeks ago. Now, he needed some quiet time to recall it. He had no idea if the comet had tried to warn him. It had never shown him anything to do with the future before, but someone had to write the Swithin prophecies. He couldn’t entirely trust what he had dreamed, but neither could he ignore it.

  “He’s right,” Ryanac remarked, looking at him but giving nothing away in his expression. “I couldn’t see much, but I could hear.”

  “I also noticed the shadows,” Antal said

  “Shadows? Why do I feel stupid for asking?”

  “People walked above. When they did, earth rained down like snow.”

  “The walls were soil…” Realisation crept over Markis insidiously. “Damn. The ruins.”

  “Which ones?” Ryanac asked him. There were at least ten such places in the woods, scarred from time and battle, where the Swithin had grown in population and moved on eventually to build the city. They had left the ruins to history. “We still need you to locate him. If we try to mount several rescues at once, they’ll see us coming and move him, or worse. That’s another reason I have to go and go alone.”

  “With Meira and Harton,” Tressa said.

  “All right.” Ryanac spared her a quick glance. “They think I’m dead. They won’t see me coming.”

  “Won’t Harton’s absence from council seem strange?”

  “With me dead, they’ll think you’ve taken him on as temporary Sonndre.”

  Of course. Markis would have seen that if he’d stopped to think. He was missing many things, but his audience had the grace to keep quiet and grant that his thoughts were in turmoil. “I can’t just sit here while you all go to save him.” He sighed. “But I have to.”

  “You have the hardest part,” Ryanac told him. “You have to wait and do nothing.”

  “It’s just as well,” Markis remarked. “I’m too distraught. I might make a mistake. Bantering with the Kita when he contacts me, I can do. You all prepare. I’ll locate Uly.

  “One more thing,” he said as they all hurried to obey. “If it is Mairtin, he’s not after Uly. He’s after me. It’s not just the book he wants. He knows I won’t hand it over without Uly in exchange, and even if I have him back I’ll hunt down whoever did this. He wants something else in this. There’s something he hasn’t given away yet. Ultimately, I believe he’ll have control over me, or he’ll see me dead. It’s the only thing that makes sense. He’ll try to take control first, though.”

  “Why?” Tressa asked

  “I promised the Kita if anything happens to Uly, I’ll make sure he lives. My brother has a similar mind. If he can control me, then he will delight in gloating.”

  “If you’re going to kill someone, you should kill them, not brag about it.” Ryanac sounded very decided about that.

  “I agree, but as a family, we do not take kindly to betrayal. I can’t help it. It’s the one way in which I’m like my father.” He met Harton’s gaze as he said it. “If it’s Mairtin, he’s up to something, some way to control my actions that I’ve not figured out yet.” He stared at Ryanac. Their gazes met. Markis wanted to tell Ryanac to save his Samir, but the big man had already made that promise to Uly directly. He didn’t need to ask. Ryanac would save Uly, or he would die trying. If both men died, Markis would live only long enough to find those responsible. Then he would take himself off somewhere isolated and quiet and use the comet to extinguish his light. Even Ryanac didn’t know he knew how to do that, but he could. He had learned much from the book. Markis could call the power and hold it within, rather than release it or send it back to the abyss. The comet slept within him, and he could awaken it. If he lost control, it was a great threat to the world, but if he had control and kept it within him, the only one it would blast to oblivion was him.

&
nbsp; Tressa was the last to leave. She touched him lightly on the shoulder, as though afraid he would break. “I hope by the comet that you find Uly,” she said, and left. He didn’t sneer until she closed the door. Tressa had made the same mistake as most people. All too often, people prayed to the comet while speaking to him. All too often, everyone forgot he was one with the comet.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “He’s not far. Could be to the west.”

  “That’s still a large area. Maybe the Prion or the Eastwood ruins. Maybe the Western Circle.” Ryanac listed the possibilities.

  Markis’s brow narrowed in concentration. He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, Kilan’s hands in his. Both men sat within a thin golden haze. Kilan looked to be in pain. “Not the circle. At least I don’t think so. More like…”

  Kilan gasped, breaking the connection. The haze faded. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I can’t bear the sensation another minute. I feel as if my brain’s melting.”

  Markis opened his eyes. “No. I’m sorry. I’m pushing you before your time. I wouldn’t if ‑‑”

  “If it wasn’t necessary. I know. I want Uly back too. I like him, and he’s good for you. I just…” Kilan circled his fingers at his temples. “It’s not the pain. I just can’t focus. I could confuse the issue more than help. We’ve narrowed it down. We can’t afford to get it wrong now. I still don’t understand how you can even do this…”

  Two choices. Markis looked at Ryanac. The Prion and the Eastwood both lay in the same direction but then they split into a full quarter of a circle. If they chose the wrong one, it would take them miles in the wrong direction. Now, Kilan looked up from where he sat, elbows on his knees, still rubbing his temples. His gaze darted between them.

  “You’ve shared the abyss with Uly,” he blurted. So Kilan had guessed why Markis could use the power to track Uly like this. Markis hadn’t even wanted Kilan to know that such a thing was possible yet, but he needed his brother’s help. The younger man sounded suitably shocked. “You’ve shared it with Uly and your guard. Markis. That’s forbidden!”