“We need to secure your room,” Hawk said. He walked to each window, closed the shutters, and latched them. “Maybe we should just kill him. The only good wolf is a dead one.”
“I think we should question him,” she replied. “First, tie him up. I don’t want him to try to bite me. He’s covered with lice, or didn’t you notice?”
Hawk found a coil of rope in a chest. He did as she requested with speed and skill. When he finished, Hawk took a step back and slipped on the pool of blood. He righted himself and grimaced when the man snickered. Taliesin tapped the tip of her sword against the man’s shoulder, getting his attention. His dark eyes widened, and she caught the faintest glow of a yellow flash in the pupils.
“What does your clan want with me?” Taliesin said. “Your captain called me a witch. Why would he say that? Tell me what I want to know, and I might let you live.”
“I’d rather die,” the Wolfman snarled.
A loud knock brought Hawk to the door. He unbolted and opened it wide. Grudge came stomping into the room, carrying the bloody gold sword in one hand and a severed arm in the other. At a stern look from Taliesin, Grudge dropped the arm onto the floor, but it did not lay there for long. Falstaff, Osprey’s favorite war dog, had trotted in behind the large man. The beast was as large as a small pony, with thick, red fur and a studded leather collar. The dog eyed the severed arm, snatched it off the floor, and dashed out of the room. More dogs waited in the hallway, but at the red dog’s growl, they raced along the hall, barking loudly.
“Falstaff should enjoy that,” Grudge said, kicking the door closed. Without warning, he broke into a fake eastern accent. “I will not lie, great lord, nor stir my soup with a bone. I’ll eat all that you give me and the bone, too.” Not missing a beat, he added, “‘Ha, ha,’ said the Knave, when at last he saw the Queen faint upon seeing the King’s best bitch gnawing at his royal bone.”
“That’s from Glabber the Glib’s play, ‘The Black Mergus,’” Taliesin said. “Ever notice how Glabber’s plays never end well for the villain? Every villain finds his end, whether it’s a hangman’s noose, poison, a pit of wild dogs, or the point of a sword. Guess how your story ends, Wolfman?”
“Have your laugh,” he replied. “My captain will return for me.”
“This one is a villain. Be sure of that,” Hawk said. His dagger appeared in his hand and flashed silver in the candlelight.
Grudge sat on a chair. “I didn’t expect your captain to return so soon,” he said. “But I was still ready for him. Now, what could he possibly want from the Raven Master’s daughter? See anything in this room that belongs to the Wolf Clan?”
“Just the girl,” the Wolfman growled.
Taliesin placed her sword aside and took Hawk’s dagger from him. She knelt beside the prisoner and pressed the blade to his throat. “I make no idle threats, sir. You will talk, or I’ll take something from you.” The tip of the blade slid along the man’s neck, leaving a trail of red, not deep enough to kill him, but enough to leave a thin scar.
The Wolfman snarled and jerked forward, trying to bite her. Hawk let out a warning cry and grabbed the man by the shoulders, pulling him back before he could sink his teeth into her hand. Taliesin stood and patted the prisoner on the head as she would a dog, before she stuck the tip of the dagger into the opening of his ear.
“Go on,” Hawk said. “Teach him manners, Taliesin.”
“Imagine, if you will,” she said in a honey-smooth voice, “how it would feel to have a dagger rammed through your ear and into your brain. A simple flick of my wrist is all it would take to mix your brains about like pudding.”
The Wolfman laughed. “I’m not afraid of any Raven,” he said.
“Maybe not them, but you should fear me. I’ve gelded stallions before, sir.” Taliesin watched the tiny yellow flame appear once again in his pupils and writhe about like a caged beast. “It’s easy as slicing off a piece of cheese.”
The Wolfman spat at her. He missed his mark and instead hit Hawk’s leg. A furious Hawk kicked the man twice in his injured leg. The prisoner winced and let out a deep growl.
“That settles it,” Taliesin said. “I will have blood before I hear the truth.”
Damning the consequences, she released her dark side. With no guilt or remorse, she cut off his ear along with a handful of hair and tossed it to the ground. The Wolfman bit his lip to keep from screaming. Hawk looked shocked, but Grudge wore a look of approval on his rugged face. Taliesin watched the blood seep along the side of the prisoner’s head.
“I didn’t know you had it in you, Taliesin,” Grudge said.
She glared at the large man. “Shut up! He has another ear.”
“Well, you best hurry,” Hawk offered as motivation. “I’m sure your father is on his way here. You’re his top priority, Taliesin. You and this prisoner.”
“Will you both please be quiet?” Taliesin said. “I want this dog to talk. If I must cut off the other ear, sir, then so I shall, for the truth I will have this night. What does Wolfgar think I stole from the battlefield? I took nothing that belongs to the Wolf Clan, though I admit I did pick up a flag. Is that what you want? Prince Sertorius’ flag?”
Hawk gasped. “You have a royal flag?”
Grudge nodded. “Chief Lykus and Prince Sertorius have joined forces,” he said. “The flag proves the prince was at the battle.”
“I told you both to be quiet. I meant it!” Taliesin’s attention returned to the Wolfman. By the way he was twisting his eyebrows about and making the strangest expressions, she felt her chances to get him to confess had increased. She lowered the dagger to his groin.
“Talk, Wolfman. I grow impatient,” Taliesin said. “Did you come for the flag?”
“I...I...would rather be gelded than tell you the truth,” the man croaked.
“By Heggen’s white beard, man, she means to do it!” Hawk shouted. “Just tell her what she wants to know before you lose your manhood.”
Hawk swallowed a lump in his throat as Grudge glared at him, for he’d only caused Taliesin to press on the dagger. The Wolfman yelped and squirmed.
“I have given my oath,” the Wolfman said, panting hard. “I will break it not. Do what you must, but I won’t be called a traitor.”
“By all the Gods!” Grudge snarled. “Move aside, woman. I’ll do it,” He knelt beside her and took the dagger from her. “This is going to hurt, lad. Last chance. It’s clearly not the flag or gold sword you’re after, so what is it? What does Lykus deem so valuable?”
The point of the knife pressed downward, and the prisoner screamed and fought against the ropes, trying to break free. As Grudge stood, the Wolfman stuck out his tongue and bit hard, severing it in half. Blood burst from the Wolfman’s mouth, frothy and thick. Grudge made no move to help, holding Hawk away when he stepped forward. Taliesin watched in horror as the Wolfman choked on his own blood, and with a last twist, grew still.
“That’s a first,” Hawk said, turning a bright shade of green. “I’ve seen a wolf bite off its own leg to get free from a trap. Never seen one bite off its own tongue to keep from talking. All he had to do was tell us what we wanted, and he’d still be alive.”
“Oh, I think he’ll talk now.” Taliesin went over and picked the golden sword off the floor. Both men stared at her, one in disbelief and one in anger. “Come on,” she said. “Don’t you want to know what the Wolf Clan is really after?”
Hawk nodded. “I very much want to see you use the sword again.”
“So, you did see Taliesin when she found Doomsayer,” Grudge said. “Then you know using the sword comes with a price. The last time she used it, she was overcome with grief and the memories of Jasper Silverhand. I doubt this scoundrel had pleasant thoughts.”
“I don’t care,” Hawk said. “Let’s get to the bottom of this.”
Taliesin glanced at the dead man lying on the floor of her room. “We need the name of the real mastermind behind this conspiracy,” she said. “Who sent you here, Wolfm
an, and what were you after?”
“Give that sword a hard shake,” Grudge said. “It worked the last time.”
She held the hilt in both hands, closed her eyes, and gave it a hard shake. Coldness slid up her fingers and arms, and she opened her mouth and said, “Sertorius.” Her eyelids fluttered against her cheeks. “The prince hired our clan to retrieve the sword. We came here to acquire Doomsayer, the Raven Master’s daughter, and a royal scroll. A scroll left behind by the Eagle Clan. A scroll the prince wants more than anything else.”
Taliesin fell silent as an image appeared in her mind. The Wolfman, from the shadow of the trees, had watched her find the golden sword. He’d seen her kneeling beside Jasper Silverhand and heard what she’d said, confirming the clan’s belief she was a witch. The image changed, and she saw the Wolfman standing in Wolf’s Lair beside a skinny woman holding a babe in her arms. His wife and child. But when he looked at the child, it was a black pup wrapped in swaddling rags. Then his thoughts grew dim.
Taliesin gasped and opened her eyes. Grudge came over, caught her by the elbow, and helped her sit in a chair. He took the sword from her and placed it on the table.
“I have blood on my feet,” Taliesin said, still dazed. Her feet and the edge of her gown were covered with blood. She pushed Grudge away and went to the tub, stepped inside, and watched the water turn red. She picked up the bar of soap and washed her hands clean of lice and the odor of the Wolfman, and scrubbed until Grudge came and took the soap from her. He washed his hands as she stepped out of the tub and collapsed onto the ground.
“It’s all right,” Grudge said. “I’ll get rid of the body. Don’t think about it.” He grabbed a blanket off the bed, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“But the baby. It wasn’t a baby at all. It was a wolf pup.”
“What baby?” Hawk gave them both a curious look. “What is she talking about?”
Grudge frowned. “The sword gives its owner visions,” he said. “Taliesin must have seen this man at Wolf’s Lair and he apparently had a child. A child that was a wolf, not human.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t have called on Doomsayer’s powers,” Hawk said. “Talking to the dead is something no one should be able to do. It’s unnatural. You’ve turned pale, Taliesin. I think we should take the sword away from Raven’s Nest. We could hide it at the gorge.”
Grudge shook his head. “It’s too late for that,” he said. “The wheels are already in motion. The Wolf Clan has sided with the rebel princes. They’ll return for the sword and Taliesin. But what is this scroll he mentioned? What is he talking about, Taliesin?”
Taliesin glanced at the suit of armor where she’d hidden the scroll. Sertorius knew she had the scroll as well. Had he dropped it by mistake? She imagined a list of the conspirators who wanted the king dead and Almaric on the throne. Such an item was too dangerous to possess. Sertorius, the Wolf Chief, and, most likely, Duke Regis Peergynt of Maldavia knew she had taken it. Peergynt was a tyrant and had the right to order the Raven Clan off his lands or to take them prisoners.
“I found a scroll on the battlefield,” she said. “It’s in a traveling container. I haven’t read it yet, but I think it carried Prince Almaric’s seal. It may be a list of traitors. I’m not sure. I was about to read it when Hawk burst into my room.”
“When I told you to pick up important items, I never imagined you’d find a death list. Where is it? Do you have it here?” Grudge asked, looking around the room.
Taliesin nodded and pointed at the suit of armor. “It’s right inside,” she said, noting how Grudge scowled, while Hawk turned pale.
“Great,” Hawk said, with a loud groan. “We’re all going to die.”
* * * * *
Chapter Six
Morning found Taliesin in bed, buried under the furs. She heard a servant tapping at the door but ignored the knock, wanting to stay in bed and sleep until noon. The knocking grew louder and, with a groan, she kicked off the furs and grabbed a robe. Sliding into it, she tiptoed across the wooden floor as the door handle started to jiggle. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and glanced over her shoulder as she tied a knot in the sash of her robe. The tub had been removed, along with the Wolfman’s body, but the blood remained on the carpet.
“Who is it?” Taliesin said. She flipped her hair away from her face, expecting to hear a servant’s voice and was surprised to hear Hawk say ‘good morning.’ She opened the door and stepped aside. Hawk was dressed for the day, looked rather chipper, and wore his cutlasses strapped to his back. His ruffled shirt was clean and neatly tucked into pants stuffed into knee-high boots. The scent of lavender hung in the air, not the type of odor she was used to smelling on a man. “What?” she said. “No hot green tea and biscuits?”
“I’m not here with your breakfast,” Hawk said, in a dour tone. “The Eagle Clan has been spotted on the road. Word must have reached Lord Arundel that you found Doomsayer. Unless this is about the scroll. Did you look to see what it is, yet?”
“No,” she said. “We agreed not to last night. It’s still hidden away.”
Taliesin moved aside with a yawn. Hawk entered and shut the door behind him. She noticed Hawk staring and felt awkward in only a robe. While she hurried to her wardrobe to find something to wear, Hawk walked to the window, opened the shutters, let in the morning sunlight, and looked at the courtyard.
“Don’t look,” Taliesin said. She slid out of the robe, put on her undergarments, and selected a long green gown to wear. It was a lovely silk gown, easy to put on, and flattering. Hawk kept his back turned as she put on leather slippers and combed out her hair. “Just because they are here, doesn’t mean this is about me.”
“This is bad. Very, very bad,” Hawk mumbled. He turned and gave her a sour look. “Why else would the Eagle Clan send an envoy here? Lord Arundel surely knows why the Wolf Clan came here. You attract trouble like flies on dung.”
Taliesin went about making her bed instead of waiting for a servant. Having Hawk in her room made her nervous, and knowing an Eagle envoy was approaching made it all the worse.
“No matter how careful you think you are,” he said, “it’s never enough. Someone is always watching, and that’s why we don’t take what’s not ours to keep.” He smoothed out the ruffles on his shirt. “Well? What are you waiting for? Let’s read the scroll.”
“Not before I’ve had a cup of tea,” Taliesin said. She groaned when someone else knocked on her door. She stomped to the door, hoping it was a servant with her breakfast. She opened it and found Grudge, clean and tidy in a Black Wings tunic, standing outside. “I don’t suppose you saw Hillary in the hallway? I’m a grouch until I have my tea.”
“Forget about breakfast,” Grudge said. “We have much to talk about before the Eagle Clan arrives.” His hand on his sword, he entered the room and shut the door behind him. Noticing her frown, he let out a soft chuckle. “I’m sure Hillary will be here soon enough. You run that man ragged with all your orders. A hot bath in the middle of the night, indeed.”
Taliesin took a sniff at Grudge. He’d bathed. He didn’t smell like lavender, but he did smell a great deal better. He’d shaved off his whiskers. Seeing his bare jaw came as a shock and not without a second glance, just to be sure he actually was handsome when scrubbed. He grinned at her and she looked away.
“I’ve already decided to lie about what happened,” she said. “I’ll bury the scroll and be done with it. As for the flag, I have so many I’m sure no one will care I have another.”
Hawk caught Grudge’s eyes. “She didn’t read the scroll. Don’t worry.”
“We agreed not to,” Grudge said, sitting on a large, ornate trunk. “But to be safe, I think I should take the scroll. I’ll decide what’s to be done with it. You two should be left out of this affair. Neither of you is any good at lying, nor keeping secrets. Give it here, Taliesin.”
“Why would I give it to you?” Taliesin said. “Because you’re the new Black Wing captain? Forget it.
I’m responsible for the scroll, and I’ll decide what to do with it.”
“Ten Wolfmen were tossed into a fire pit and are still smoldering, and more will be coming to Raven’s Nest.” Grudge held out his hand. “You wanted to be a Black Wing. I just gave you an order, Taliesin.”
She gave a hard shake of her head. “I don’t have to follow your orders,” she said. “You told me last night Osprey had to consider whether or not I could be a Black Wing. I never should have told either of you about the damn scroll. Now get out and let me finish dressing. I want to look presentable for the Eagle envoy.”
“I’m trying to help you, and all you can do is act offended. I actually care,” Grudge said, throwing his hands in the air. “I don’t have time to argue this morning. Osprey has sent the women and children up the tree and ordered the stairs destroyed. Captain Wolfgar will return, and there isn’t much time to prepare for a major assault.” He walked to the door and glanced at her. “Do the right thing for once. If you won’t give it to me, then burn the scroll.” He glanced at the young man standing at the window. “Hawk, come with me. We have work to do.”
Hawk hurried to Taliesin as Grudge opened the door. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We won’t let the Wolfmen or the Eagle envoys harm you. Grudge is just being, well, Grudge.” He gave a rare smile. “Never trap a raven in its own nest, that’s what I always say. Fighting on our home turf has its advantages.”
As soon as Grudge and Hawk left, Taliesin went to check on the scroll. It was where she’d left it, inside the helmet. But Grudge and Hawk knew it was there, so she took it out, placed it inside an armored leg, and stuffed a scarf on top. With one last look around the room, she went into the hallway, shut the door, and headed to the main hall.
A flurry of activity was going on. Servants were laying fresh linens over the tables and placing the best silver plates and chalices atop them. Hillary spotted Taliesin from the kitchen door and waved her to the Raven Master’s table. The moment she took a seat, a servant with a tray came out the door. A pot of hot green tea, a plate of warm biscuits, and jars of honey and fresh-churned butter were set before her. Hillary poured tea into a cup for her. He’d shaved and wore a bright yellow tunic over which hung a fresh apron. His white hair was tied into a sparse braid, and a smile appeared on his face as Mrs. Caldwell’s voice was heard in the kitchen.
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