by Anna Kashina
Evan looked further, to the other participants in the gathering. Seated across Daemur were three men, whose draping robes and the cold, creeping quality of their gazes were eerily similar to Tolos’s. Evan’s skin prickled as he walked toward them, careful to keep his face calm.
He approached the indicated chair and lowered onto the hard wooden seat, watching Tolos unhurriedly take a place next to the man whose dark eyes didn’t seem to have any irises, making his sharp-featured face look almost inhuman. Next to him sat a thin man with a tonsured head and speckled brown-and-gray eyes, and another, with thin hair and bird-like features. Evan stared.
“Reverend Haghos?”
The man’s thin lips twitched. “Kaddim Haghos, Your Majesty.”
Evan could only gape as the man calmly introduced his companions. “Kaddim Nimos, Sire. And, over here, Kaddim Farros.”
Evan forced himself to relax under the heavy stares of the Kaddim Brothers. He felt too tired to be surprised. If the former reverend of the Church chose to ally himself with the Kaddim, there seemed nothing more to be said.
“Now,” Tolos said, “since we’re all gathered here, my lords and ladies, it’s time to discuss our plans. Kaddim Nimos?” He turned to the man with dark irisless eyes.
“Our plan is very simple, my lords and ladies,” Nimos said. “We want to restore the old Shandorian Empire.”
In the pause that followed everyone looked at him in disbelief.
Evan recovered first. “You can’t be serious.”
Nimos’s dark eyes bore into him with feverish intensity. “Oh, but I am, Your Majesty.”
“You are talking about vast territories, inhabited by people so different that they would never–”
“I’m talking about everyone on our side of the Eastern Mountain Range.” Nimos glanced at his companions. “The old empire stretched from the Ridges all the way to the Southern Marshes – a peaceful union, where everyone coexisted in harmony, under one rule.”
“Peaceful?” Evan began, and bit his lip. There was no need for a political argument. He was certain the preposterous suggestion to restore the bloody rule of the raging maniacs that called themselves emperors did not come from ignorance.
Nimos shrugged. “It’s understandable that Your Majesty would feel somewhat emotional about our plan. But a good emperor–”
Evan smiled. “I can see we’re finally coming to the point. Who do you have in mind?”
Nimos held a pause, running his eyes around the entranced group. “A highly worthy man, I can assure you, Sire.”
“You mean, one of your brothers?”
Nimos gave Evan a pitiful look. “Your vision is so limited, if I may be so bold. Our true master is the only one worthy of ruling the empire. We’re here as his emissaries, no more.”
It seemed that the room had become darker as he said these words. Evan felt a chill pass over the stone floor and resisted the urge to pull his cloak tighter around himself.
He remembered a strange sign burned into the shoulder of the man they’d captured in the castle courtyard, after the attack on Kyth back in Tadar. The sign of Ghaz Kadan. When these men referred to their master, could they really mean…?
Evan took a breath. “This is insane. You can’t mean your master, as in Ghaz Ka–”
“Silence!” Tolos rose up from his seat. “Don’t speak the sacred name in vain!”
Evan receded back into his chair. “If your plans are as grand as all this, why play this charade and go to such lengths to gather us all here?”
“Simple,” Nimos said. “The old empire has been divided into the kingdoms of Tandar and Shayil Yara, as well as the Bengaw Province, the Order of Keepers, the Wanderer people, and the Majat Guild. These are all independent forces not to be ignored, but only the two kingdoms and the Order of Keepers by now constitute real power. We gathered you here so that you could sign a treaty indicating your voluntary decision to join the empire.”
Evan smiled. “Lord Daemur and I speak for Tandar,” he said. “But whatever the Tanad signs for Shayil Yara couldn’t be held as a true document. He’s an ambassador, no more.”
Nimos nodded. “Of course. The signature has to come from Princess Aljbeda. We know that the Tanad advises Her Highness, so we took the liberty of bringing him here to ensure her cooperation.”
“But the Princess is only five years old! She can’t be held accountable!”
“She is the heiress to the Southern Throne. As such, her word means a lot. She is five, true, but I assure Your Majesty that she realizes the responsibility. Her cooperation would mean as much as yours.”
Evan hesitated. It was true. Ridiculous as it was, if Princess Aljbeda signed the document it would be binding under the circumstances. Even her mother, Queen Rajmella of Shayil Yara, wouldn’t be able to annul it without risking a war.
“Where’s the Princess?” he asked slowly.
Nimos smiled. “Don’t be concerned, Your Majesty. The Princess is safely in our care. Her ladies in waiting have been most gracious in allowing us to set our own guard around Her Highness. In fact, despite the late hour, the Princess will be brought here as soon as we are ready. I’d like to remind you that her wellbeing is not only the Tanad’s, but your responsibility to your southern sovereign. If Her Highness were to suffer an unfortunate incident in your kingdom, Queen Rajmella would be quite unlikely to ever forgive you. Personally, I’d hate to see a war started over something as small as this.”
There was another long pause.
Evan took a deep breath, steadying his voice. “You know very well that none of us would ever sign such a document. If this is your worst threat–”
“It isn’t,” Nimos said calmly. “We can do better. Consider this, Your Majesty. If you don’t sign this document, none of you will ever leave this chamber alive.”
Evan ran his eyes around the pale faces of his companions. They were alone here, with more than a dozen deadly warriors and four men who possessed the power to control people’s minds.
“You’ll never get away with it,” he said quietly.
Nimos smiled. “And who do you think would oppose us, Sire?”
“How about the Majat? You’ve discounted them from your treaty, but it seems to me they’re a considerable force that could bring you down.”
Nimos waved his hands in a dismissive gesture.
“Your information is outdated,” he said. “The Majat are formidable warriors, but without their skill they are just as helpless as anyone. Their best are the Diamonds, and I’m told you had a chance to see how easy they are to deal with. In fact, there are only twelve Diamonds that are currently in top shape for active assignments, and by our reckoning three of them should be dead by now. Including, I might say, your former Pentade leader.”
“Aghat Han,” Evan said quietly.
“Yes. Him too. But I was actually referring to Aghat Mai. He and Aghat Kara are both dead.”
Evan raised his face to the man, feeling a chill creep up his spine. What he said wasn’t true. It simply couldn’t be.
“Now, Your Majesty,” Nimos said. “Will you sign the document?”
47
A NEW ALLY
Kyth found Kara at the edge of the camp polishing her weapon. He knew this was a time she preferred not to be disturbed, but during their strenuous march he had become all but desperate to catch her alone. After her recovery she spent all her time with Mai and Raishan, receding into their company like a shelter. Kyth understood she needed time. She had come out the other side of death, an outcast chased by her own kind, all because of him. Her future, as far as the Majat Guild was concerned, was uncertain and he couldn’t offer nearly as much comfort in dealing with it as people of her upbringing. Kyth had been careful to stay away during the entire trip but now, as they neared Illitand Hall and their plans were about to be set into motion, he had to talk to her.
She raised her head as he approached and silently moved sideways to make room for him on the dry patch of gras
s. Kyth sat down, taking a moment to enjoy her closeness and the warmth of her shoulder next to him. There was so much he wanted to say to her. But he wasn’t going to.
“It’s today, isn’t it?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I hope you’re planning to bring me along,” he went on.
“We’re debating it,” she said. “I, for one, think it’s much too dangerous.”
“But I can protect at least one of you from their power!”
She shrugged. “I’m still immune. This should be enough in a tight spot. If I can take out the Kaddim Brothers–”
“You haven’t seen them fight! Nimos was able to stand up to Mai for quite some time.”
“Mai was badly wounded at the time.”
Kyth paused. She had a point, but he simply couldn’t accept it. To sit back and do nothing when Kara was risking her life against impossible odds to save his father…
“I want to come,” he said. “If you’re against it, I hope Mai and Raishan would see it my way.”
She looked at him, suddenly serious. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Did her voice really waver, or was it his imagination?
“Nothing will happen to me,” he said. “Not while I’m with three Diamonds.”
She looked past him into the forest shadows. Kyth turned.
The blackness behind him shaped up to become Mai.
“It’s time,” the Diamond said.
“I’m coming with you,” Kyth said. “My power can be of use to you.”
Mai gave him a long look, then nodded. Kara’s eyes darted between them, but she said nothing as she sheathed her weapon and sprang to her feet.
Raishan and Egey Bashi materialized from the shadows behind them.
“Aghat Mai wants to bring Ellah with us,” Raishan said to Kara. “But I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“Ellah?” Kyth looked at Mai in surprise.
The Diamond’s expression was impenetrable. “Her gift could be of use to us. Just like yours.”
“How?”
Mai shrugged. “I believe there’re people in the castle who’d actually be willing to help. Knowing who they are would eliminate a lot of unnecessary killing. But we can’t trust any of them unless we have a truthseer with us.”
“But she can’t even fight!” Kyth protested.
Mai measured him up and down with his gaze. “No offense, Your Highness, but for the task we’re facing, neither can you.”
Kyth bit his tongue. He wanted to remind Mai how for a short time back in the Grasslands they fought as equals, and how his gift gave him powers Mai could never dream of. But now didn’t seem to be the time.
“It’s her life you are risking,” he said instead.
“I think this one’s not for you to decide, is it?” Mai held Kyth’s gaze for a moment. Then he turned and walked off into the darkness.
“Since when is he in charge around here?” Kyth wondered.
Egey Bashi patted him on the shoulder. “I hate it myself when they get like that,” he said. “But Aghat Mai’s right. Ellah’s gift can be of use to us. And, she’s free to refuse if she isn’t up to it.”
“But she…” Kyth looked to make sure Kara and Raishan were out of earshot. “She’ll come just because of Mai.”
Egey Bashi squeezed his arm. “I fail to see the difference, lad,” he said. “If you know what I mean.”
Kyth lowered his eyes. Kara didn’t ask me. I insisted on coming myself. But deep inside he knew the Keeper had a point.
Through the intertwining branches of the forest thicket he threw a last glance at the camp. Most of the people were asleep. Alder and Garnald sat beside Ayalla’s snakewood hut, deep in conversation. A few Cha’ori from Dagmara’s escort were tending to their horses. Mai and Ellah stood at the side of the dying campfire. They exchanged a few words, then turned and disappeared into the bushes. A few moments later Kyth heard the approaching rustle of their footsteps. Ellah met Kyth’s gaze and gave him a brief nod.
“Let’s move,” Kara said from the shadows ahead.
They moved in a single file along a barely perceptible trail that led off through the trees to the distant glimmer of the Illitand Lake. Kyth was careful to keep up behind Kara, straining his eyes to see her in the forest darkness. Her slim shape, draped in a dark cloak, blended with the shadows. She moved so smoothly that she was almost invisible.
After half an hour of fast walking they came to the edge of the forest. The open glade in front ran into the shimmering water of the lake. The city of Illitand Hall rose in its center, straight out of the water. Scattered night light reflecting off the lake surface coated the ornate stone lace with a sparse glint of tarnished silver, making the entire city look like an object of ancient craftsmanship. Its dark outline loomed against the low clouds, a powerful, ominous beauty warning intruders against any attempts to penetrate its walls.
“How do you propose to storm this?” Egey Bashi asked.
The Majat exchanged glances.
“There are two ways,” Raishan said. “The easy way would be to get close to the walls without being noticed.”
“What’s the other way?”
Raishan calmly returned his look. “The other’s the hard way.” He turned to move on.
“Wait!” Egey Bashi called out.
All three Diamonds turned to him.
“There’s something I need to tell all of you about the Kaddim Brothers,” Egey Bashi said. “Their power only acts within visual range. If you’re behind a wall, or a very thick door, they can’t affect you.”
“How do you know this?” Raishan demanded.
Egey Bashi looked him straight in the face. “It has been bothering me for a while, but I’ve just realized. That time in the monastery, when they tried to blast you – you got behind a pillar and they missed you. Remember, Aghat Raishan?”
Raishan hesitated, then nodded.
“Let’s move.” He turned back to the silent shape of the fortress.
They crept low along the ground, moving as smoothly as they could and keeping to the natural shadows of the landscape. The wall loomed ahead, a rough stone structure that rose to the height of at least three houses and ran all the way around the city. Kyth noticed how the Majat kept their eyes on the narrow slits along the top of the wall, and how their postures were very alert, as if waiting for an attack. But no one tried to stop them as they made their way across the stone bridge to the bottom of the wall.
Kara and Mai were in the lead. When they reached the massive city gate, they stopped, bringing the entire party to a halt in their wake. The two of them exchanged short phrases, indistinct to the rest of the group. Then Kara stood back and ran her eyes up the roughly hewn stones.
Kyth crept closer, so that he could hear what was going on.
“I’ll cover you,” Mai said. He took out a crossbow and drew it with a smooth wrist movement, placing a bolt against the string.
Kara nodded. Kyth had no idea what they were going to do, but it didn’t seem to be a good time to ask. He crouched against the wall, watching.
Kara threw off her cloak and took out a small grappler hook. Her arm flew back in a powerful sway. A thin metal streak darted through the air and they heard a click high above. She tugged at the rope, so thin that it was hard to see in the darkness. Then she nodded to Mai and pushed off the ground, sliding up the rope quickly as if someone from above was pulling her up. Mai stood back, crossbow at the ready.
Raishan swept past him to a small door, sharply outlined within the massive gate.
“Stay close, everyone,” he said. “Be ready to get inside.”
A thud echoed above, followed by metal clanking. Mai’s crossbow hand flew up and the bolt went off, whistling as it cut through the still night air. There was a gasp and a large bulky shape disengaged from the top of the wall and tumbled down onto the ground at their feet. It bounced as it landed, and rolled to a standstill right beside Kyth.
&nbs
p; It was a man in leather armor covered by a green and yellow Illitand cloak. His helmet slid off after the fall, revealing a young face, barely older than Kyth’s. His head turned to the side, unseeing eyes staring into the sky. A crossbow bolt protruded from his chest.
Ellah gasped and hid her face on Kyth’s shoulder. Kyth looked past her to Mai, who calmly reloaded his crossbow and looked up the wall. There seemed to be no more activity above. After a long moment Mai lowered his weapon.
“Clear,” he said. He unloaded the crossbow with a quick move, and put it away. Then he bent down and picked up Kara’s cloak.
There was more clanking and the small door within the gate swung open. Kara stood on the other side, her face calm and composed. Behind her, lifeless shapes sprawled on the cobbled stone pavement. Kyth counted five, all of them wearing outfits of the Illitand city guard. From this distance he couldn’t tell if they were alive.
They stepped inside. Raishan, walking last, closed the door behind them. Kara took her cloak from Mai and wrapped into it, once again blending with the shadows of the gray stone walls.
They made their way uphill, past rows of houses lining the street that ascended from the gate at a steep angle toward the distant shape of the castle. The city looked fast asleep. There was nothing in the streets except occasional stray cats that shied away at their approach and surveyed them from the shadows of side alleys with huge glowing eyes. A dog barked at them from one of the enclosed yards, but stopped abruptly as Mai walked by, throwing a short glance through the thick wooden fence. They waited a moment to see if the incident had raised an alarm, but the streets seemed to be as quiet as before.
By the time they reached the upper city, Kyth was out of breath. Ellah and Egey Bashi also looked winded, but the three Diamonds were calm and fresh, as if they spent the entire time resting, not ascending the mountain at a fast pace.