He sat where he was, arms folded over his chest, legs tucked under him and watched the spectacle unfold. He did not cheer for one man over the other nor did he value one man's ability more so than his opponent. He simply sat and waited until neither man was able to continue the brawl. When they lay gasping and bloody on the floor, semi-conscious and throbbing with pain, he stood up and walked to them, looking down with mild irritation.
“Kaelan, tell him how you feel about what he said."
Kaelan's mouth was torn, a tooth chipped, and he was having enough trouble getting air into his battered lungs without having to explain himself to the bastard lying beside him. This wasn't finished and he knew before it was, one of them was going to have to die.
“That will not happen,” Occultus told him. “Alel needs the two of you to do what must be done."
“I ... won't ... do ... anything ... with ... Hesar!” Quinn vowed. “Except ... slit ... his ... throat!” He turned to his side with effort and spat out a gob of bloody saliva and along with it, a jaw tooth.
“I'll ... see ... you ... in ... hell,” Kaelan responded to the threat.
Occultus sighed wearily. “This is why I am thankful there is no woman in my life,” he stated. He dropped gracefully to his knees between the two men and looked from one to another. “See the damage they cause?"
Kaelan struggled to sit up. He coughed, brought up blood-fleck phlegm, then spat it away. He was still laboring for breath, but he thought he might be able to tell the bastard beside him exactly how things would be. “I will fight for her, Arbra,” he said and had to stop a moment as a wave of dizziness and pain rippled over him.
“I am ready anytime you are, Stormy,” Quinn hissed.
“She is my life,” Kaelan stressed. “I've spent seven years dying inside because I did not have her with me. I have endured a hell you can not even begin to imagine, wondering what man might be putting his hands on her.” He coughed again, drew in several ragged breaths before he continued. “I'd lay awake half the night, night after night, imagining her giving herself to some lucky man. The other part of the night I worried that some sick, twisted old lecher was slobbering all over her."
Quinn forced himself to sit up. He ran the back of his hand under his chin where a stream of bloody saliva had formed. He looked at Hesar, wondering if he, himself, looked at bad as that man did.
“When she showed up at my door, I could not believe my good fortune,” Kaelan continued. “Here she was-right where I had always dreamed of her being-unmarried, unsullied by another man. It was like going to sleep in hell and waking up in heaven. I thought I had died, but was so glad I hadn't when I knew this was no dream, that she was really there."
Quinn's body was aching with pain so he lay back, bracing himself on his elbows as he waited for Hesar to have his say. He drew in hard, quick, painful breaths-careful not to breathe too deeply-for he knew he had a broken rib or two.
“I will not let anyone take her away from me ever again, Sorn,” Kaelan declared. “I will kill the man who tries."
“He will not try,” Occultus said.
Quinn turned his head and stared at the priest. “You don't speak for me!"
“You were married,” Occultus reminded the man. “Your lady-wife was taken from you. Have you any doubt in your mind that Xavier Rahshobi is responsible for her death?"
“None!” Quinn spat. “No doubt at all."
“Have you doubt that it was he who was responsible for your arrest and conviction? That it was he who made sure the Tribunal sent you to Tyber's Isle?” When Quinn didn't bother to answer, the priest pointed at finger at him. “How did that make you feel?"
“You know gods-be-damned well how it made me feel!” Quinn threw back at him.
“And you vowed one day to find Xavier and end his worthless life for what he did, isn't that so?"
“Aye, it's so!” Quinn ignored the pain in his chest and sat up again. “I will gut him and feed his innards to the crocs!"
Occultus lowered his voice to an insinuating whisper. “Your lady-wife can not be returned to you, but Prince Kaelan's lady is alive and well and very much in love with him."
Quinn turned his head away, not wanting to hear that.
“Did you not pay a terrible price when you lost your lady?” Occultus asked.
Arbra refused to answer.
“You know the agony you endured when the Lady Nailah was taken from you in death. Do you not know that Kaelan Hesar felt the same agony of spirit, wretchedness of life that you felt when his lady was taken from him?"
“His woman didn't die,’ Quinn grated. “He still has her."
“And aims to keep her,” Kaelan snapped.
“We'll see,” Quinn grunted.
Occultus reached out and gripped Quinn's shoulder. “Would you put him, any man, through that again simply because you have fallen in love with a woman who does not love you in return and never will?"
Quinn flinched. He dared not ask the sorcerer if what he was saying was true for he feared it was. Best to go on hoping Angel would one day love him than to ask and have all doubt removed.
“She is my woman,” Hesar stated. “I will go to my grave before I ever let anyone else take her from me again!"
Occultus held up his hand, demanding quiet. He lowered his hand, folded it with the other one in his lap and looked from one man to the other.
“It is your destinies of which we speak here, gentlemen. Destinies decreed by the gods, Themselves. Nothing else is of any importance. You were meant to meet, just as you have, in the way you have, and be joined in your mutual hindrance of the Domination's goals.” His gaze locked on Kaelan. “If it were not for the woman, the two of you would have become fast friends from the first moment you met."
“We will never be friends,” Quinn said firmly.
Occultus nodded. “Perhaps not, but you will become pleasant enemies."
“What you are saying is you want us to work together,” Kaelan grated. “In order for me to do that, I have to trust him.” He glared at Sorn. “And I don't trust him any further than I can see him."
“Nor I, you!” Quinn snorted.
Occultus swung his gaze to Arbra. “And why is that, Lord Quinn?” He indicated Kaelan with his hand. “You have no reason to mistrust His Grace. What has he done to you to merit your feeling?"
Arbra, who up until that time had not been known to make quick judgments of other men, only shrugged. He knew there was no way he could put into words the way he felt about Hesar, but he knew if he was to be honest with himself, he would have to admit the Viragonian had given him no reason to mistrust him.
“I am waiting, Lord Quinn,” Occultus pressed. “What reason do you give for not trusting His Grace?"
“He has the woman I want!” Arbra snapped, irritated with himself that his explanation sounded both juvenile and inadequate. He looked away, somewhat chagrined. “For no other reason than that."
Kaelan ground his teeth, understanding the sorcerer would chastise him if he dared comment on that telling assertion. He held his tongue, as difficult as that was, and when Occultus turned to him, a knowing look in the older man's sharp brown eyes, he, too, shrugged.
“That is why I don't trust him,” Kaelan admitted. “A man who lusts after another man's wife, can't be trusted."
Arbra's head snapped back around. “My honor has never been questioned before today, Hesar!"
“But you have never coveted what was not yours before, either, have you?” Occultus queried in a soft voice.
“No,” Arbra agreed, “but..."
“Then,” Occultus cut him off, “it would not be wise to start doing so now when your honor is of utmost importance."
Quinn Arbra said nothing for a long moment, then he sighed deeply. “I am a Windwarrior,” he reminded himself. “I have vowed to uphold the sanctity of marriage."
“The rights of a husband over his wife,” Occultus put in.
Quinn nodded grimly. “Aye,” he agreed
through a clenched jaw.
Kaelan's lips twitched for he knew Sorn had defeated himself with the admission of being One with the Windwarrior Society.
“As a Windwarrior,” Occultus remarked, “you uphold the honor of your fellow Windwarriors."
“And are sworn to keep sacrosanct the purity of the women under your protection,” Hesar added, gaining Arbra's stony glower.
“I know the tenets of the Society, Hesar!” Arbra snapped.
“Knowing them and practicing them are separate issues,” Occultus declared.
A muscle in Arbra's jaw bunched, his fists clenched, but he lifted his head. “I have made vows I would die rather than break, Your Worship."
“That is good, for the gods, Themselves, would not have allowed you to break those vows anyway,” Occultus declared.
There was a long silence in the room while the two younger men studiously avoided looking at one another and Occultus organized in his mind what he needed to say to seal the bargain he would require of these two warriors. When at last he had formulated the right thoughts, he looked hard at Kaelan Hesar.
“You are not to be a part of Nicholas Cree's pirate brigade, Kaelan."
Kaelan looked up. “Then what am I to do?"
“What you have always wanted to do,” Occultus stated. “Raise and sell horses."
The Viragonian's forehead crinkled with concern. “Your Grace, I have no money to begin a horse farm."
“You will after the booty is divided from the one and only pirate raid upon which you will go,” Occultus informed him. He turned his eyes to Quinn. “And your partner here will add his share with yours and then leave for Asaraba where he will buy four Rysalian breeding mares and a colt."
Quinn's eyebrows shot up into his thick blond hair. “You aren't talking about me!” he denied. “I set one foot in Asaraba and I'll be arrested again.” A shudder ran through his lean body and he shook his head in denial. “I'll not let that happen again!"
Occultus frowned. “Have you no faith in the gods’ will, Arbra?"
Quinn snorted. “I've no faith in anyone other than myself.” He looked at Kaelan, then corrected that statement. “And my Angel."
The growl that came from Kaelan could be heard outside the hut. “Keep your adulterous thoughts off my woman and don't call her that gods-be-damned name again, Arbra!"
The priest held up one bony hand before Quinn's temper could erupt. “I am taking the young Serenian and his friend back with me."
“What the hell difference does that??” Kaelan began, only to have the sorcerer dart him a quelling glance. Hesar clamped his mouth shut.
“Their ransoms have been paid,” Occultus continued, “and they wish to invest a portion of that ransom in the horse breeding venture, as well.” He folded his arms. “There will be plenty of money left over with which young Thècion will buy several
witnesses who will swear they saw Xavier Rahshobi push the Lady Nailah to her death."
“No one was there, but the three of us,” Quinn protested.
Occultus smiled. “The gods and Their ladies were there, Arbra. It is Their will that Xavier Rahshobi hang for the murder of his sister.” He cocked his head to one side. “Have you an objection to that?"
“Aye, I have an objection!” Quinn grumbled. “I want the honor of running my sword through that bastard's evil gut!” Even as Arbra finished speaking, Occultus was shaking his head. “Why the hell not?” Quinn demanded. “I am entitled to satisfaction!"
“Vengeance is best served cold, Arbra,” Occultus reminded the young warrior. “Xavier will believe it is your money which condemns him to the hangman's tree and that is all that is necessary for you to have your revenge. That way, no blood will stain your hands."
“He's right,” Kaelan said softly. “If you let the Tribunal punish him, they will have no choice but to restore your good name to you and erase the charges that sent you to Tyber's Isle.” He snorted fatalistically. “Too bad you couldn't ask recompense for time served, eh?"
“The recompense will come from the Tribunal coffers we plunder, Stormy,” Quinn replied.
Occultus nodded. Whether the two men knew it or not, they were already bonding and he was pleased. So pleased, that he had one more thing he wished to say to the Ionarian Lord that he knew would seal the comradeship.
“There will be a woman in Asaraba,” Occultus decreed. “Her name is Cantara. She is a distant cousin of the House of Jaborn.” He frowned. “But that can not be held against her."
“What of her?” Quinn asked suspiciously. He knew of the Jaborns. Theirs was a very powerful sheikdom that was greatly feared in the Hasdu world.
“You will marry her,” Occultus informed him. Before Quinn could erupt into further denials, the sorcerer went on.
“You will give her twin sons, Hern and Balizar,” the priest said. “Both will be mighty warriors. One will be the teacher of the Dark Overlord and be the one to bring that man into the light. The other, will stand at his side and fight; he will save the Overlord's life."
“It's seed of my seed from which the Dark Overlord will come,” Kaelan bragged and blushed when Occultus threw him an admonishing glower.
“Is that true?” Quinn asked, his eyes worried.
Occultus nodded. “And your son and his son will be great friends, though they will...” The sorcerer stopped. Why borrow trouble by telling these men that their sons would love the same woman just as they, themselves, loved the same woman? That one man would sire the Dark Overlord while the other man would believe it had been his seed planted that grew in the woman's womb?
“They will what, Your Worship?” Kaelan pressed.
“Live in different worlds,” Occultus finished smoothly. “As you two will live in different worlds."
Kaelan looked at Quinn. The two young warriors regarded one another silently for a moment, then shrugged, giving in to their destinies. What would be, would be.
Occultus smiled. “Then it is settled.” He looked from one knight to the other. “You will join together and begin the task of defeating the Brotherhood."
Hesar surprised himself by extending his sword hand to Arbra. “Truce?"
Arbra let out a long breath. “Truce,” he grunted and reached out to grip Kaelan's wrist.
Occultus Noire watched the two men for a few moments then dismissed them. There were prayers and be made to keep these two knights safe as they journeyed side by side along the dark paths of evil. As he cast the runes of protection for the men, he did not fail to include within the Circle of Safety the main reason the two of them were sure to remain together for as long as they lived: Gillian Hesar.
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Chapter Eight
Gillian looked up from her sewing and grinned. “Bad day, my love?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
Kaelan limped over to the hammock and sat down heavily. “That man is devoid of humor!"
His lady-wife laid down the shirt she had been mending. “What did the two of you do, now?"
A sheepish look came over Kaelan's face. “I did nothing. I but watched."
“What did you watch, milord?” she inquired.
The sheepish look gave way to a genuinely pleased smirk. “Riordan put Arbra's arrogant ass down."
Gillian rolled her eyes heavenward. When would the two of them stop being such children? She sat back in her wicker chair and regarded her husband much as a mother would her errant little boy. “Was he hurt?” she asked.
The smirk was replaced by a look of pique. “What difference would it make if the fool was?"
“Was he hurt?” she repeated.
Kaelan shrugged. “Unfortunately not. The man's head is too thick."
“Why were they fighting?"
“They weren't,” Kaelan answered and when she gave him what he had begun to call her ‘exasperated’ look, he shook his head. “They weren't! Arbra asked to be shown some self-defense moves Riordan had learned in Chrystallus, and he found out he wasn't as go
od with his hands and feet as he is with his sword."
For her husband to admit Quinn Arbra was good with his sword was an improvement. Up until that week, Kaelan would as soon have his tongue ripped out at the root as admit Quinn excelled in anything other than arrogance.
“Has Nick set a date for leaving, yet?” she asked, picking up her mending once more.
“Next week for sure,” Kaelan replied. He glanced at his wife. “Are you worried?"
“Of course,” she answered. In all truth, she was terrified that both her husband and her brother would be taking to the High Seas to go a'pirating. That they were going after only Tribunal ships and transports was reason enough to be afraid. She could have justified the pirating of Diabolusian ships: everyone robbed those arrogant bastards and the Tribunal turned a blind eye to the pilfering. But to rob Tribunal ships? The thought made her shudder with unease.
“We know what we're doing,” Kaelan said gently.
“So you keep telling me,” Gilly reminded him.
Kaelan swung his legs up into the hammock. “Occultus would not have left if he thought we could not handle what we're setting out to do, Gilly."
That the men who called themselves Alel's Force had the sorcerer's protection was a given. Gillian only wondered how much that protection was worth. She, herself had gone to the Shadowlands, the secret haven of the Daughters of the Multitudes to ask for the renegades’ protection and she hoped the Great Lady would heed her prayer.
“Nothing will happen to me, Sweeting,” Kaelan said, turning his head to look at her.
“I know,” she replied. She pierced the muslin fabric of his shirt with the needle and drew the thread through to the other side. “But it would set my mind at ease to know you and Quinn could stand back to back and protect each other."
“Why should we not?” Kaelan inquired.
“Your dislike of one another?” Gilly suggested.
Kaelan laced his fingers together and put his hands behind his head. “Leave off, Gillian,” he admonished her. “I can work with the man, dearling, but I don't have to like him to do so."
“It would help,” his wife advised.
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