Sword of Jashan (Book 2)

by Anne Marie Lutz

  Ander sagged in relief. The girl squirmed in his grip but Ander held tighter. “We are missing three guardsmen and Lord Froman, who rode ahead of us. I don’t know if they need help.” Or if they were part of this set-up, he thought but did not say aloud.

  Commander Eran waved two of his men ahead. They thundered off down the trail, leaving only their commander with Ander and Shan-il.

  “Take this one,” Ander said to the commander. Reaction hit him hard, and his knees sagged. “She is the only one of them we have. Well, those behind that tree there, but they’ll be long gone in a moment.” As he spoke there was a yelp from the greenery, and the two youths still hiding behind the tree trunk scattered, running through the undergrowth like deer.

  Commander Eran dismounted, grabbing the girl by her filthy arm. “I think we have another to question who will not be running away,” he said. Ander looked ahead and saw one of the ragged attackers stirring on the trail, groaning in pain.

  The trail and the bright sky and all the dappled green went fuzzy, and Ander felt unaccountably light. Then he went down, dropping to the dirt of the trail. He put his head in his hands, waiting for the reaction to pass. He felt someone’s hands on his shoulders, supporting him, and Shan-il’s voice explaining to Commander Eran who they were and what was happening to Ander.

  “Color magery,” he heard. “Reaction.”

  Ander shivered as the cold of the trail sank into his bones and the heat of the day seemed all gone to chill. Color magery coalesced inside him, lying along his nerves, waiting to be used. He closed his eyes and pushed it back, remembering what Mage Oron had taught him long ago. Eventually he felt as if the magery was under control, back where it should be. He opened his eyes to find the world back to its usual colors, and three people watching him.

  Shan-il asked, “All right now?”

  Ander nodded. He wavered but managed to get up. He still felt enervated in a way that he had not experienced before. Shan-il had brought a horse near, and he leaned against its side, grateful for the solid support.

  The ragged girl who had attacked him jeered. “Yer as weak as a kitten,” she said.

  The commander gave her a solid slap against the side of her head. “You don’t speak so to a righ, vermin. Where are your parents?”

  The girl’s eyes went to one of the crumpled forms on the trail. She said, “None of yer business,” and the commander wrapped her hands with a leather cord with needless force.

  The two guardsmen returned from the trail ahead, reporting no sign of Lord Froman and the others. Commander Eran swore. “Back to station with all of us, then. You too if you please, my lord, for your safety. We need to get searchers out. My lord, we will call for assistance for you there, or escort you back to the palace if you wish. Now, men! Let’s move!”

  Ander tried to mount, but his knees still trembled. He could feel his face heat as he accepted a boost from Shan-il. He found himself settled in the saddle, the mare snorting and tossing her head.

  The man they had captured was thrown over the back of a horse for the ride back to Lake Heart. The ragged girl-child was tied to the Commander’s saddle by a rope from her bound hands; she turned twice and sneered at Ander, once spitting at him until she was cuffed again.

  “Have mercy,” the man over the saddle moaned. “I only did what I was told ta do! I’m sick. Let me off this beast!”

  Shan-il rode up to the prisoner. “Who ordered you to do this?”

  “A righ. A young righ. I never knew his name. Gave coin for all of us and told me ta disappear after the job was done. Let me off this beast. I am sick, I tell you!”

  Commander Eran had ridden back to see what was going on with the prisoner. “Be glad you’re not dead. Quit asking for privileges, man. Who is this that has hired you to attack Lord Ander? Tell us now and you’ll be glad of it.”

  “I said I don’t know the bastard’s name!”

  “What do you know, then?”

  The man gagged. “Let me off, let me off—ya expect me ta talk like this?”

  Eran shrugged. He cut the man’s bonds and pulled him off the horse’s back. The man sprawled in the dirt, retching.

  The girl who was still tied to Eran’s saddle yanked at her bonds.

  “You stay put,” Eran ordered. “I’ll get to you.”

  “I won’t talk,” the girl said. “We said we wouldn’t talk, remember?” This was directed at the man sitting in the dirt.

  “I got no loyalty ta those righ,” the man said. “I do what I have to. It’s my neck, brat—I’ll try to save it how I can.”

  The girl spat at him.

  “Enough.” Ander dismounted and stood before the prisoner. “I want to know. What did this righ look like?”

  The man’s eyes narrowed. “What’ll you do for me if I say, then?”

  Eran lost his temper. “I’ll do this for you—I’ll keep myself from slaying you where you sit, in the dirt like a dog. How’s that, scum? I am sorry, Lord Ander.”

  “It’s all right.” Ander looked at the prisoner. “Did this righ wear a badge, or any rings?”

  “Wasn’ lookin’ at his jewelry.”

  “What did the man look like?” Eran asked. “A young righ, you said?”

  The man looked up at them, his eyes sly. “Not a very young righ. Tall. Long hair, in a tail.”

  “What color was the man’s hair?” Ander asked.

  “Light-colored. He said ta do what he said and vanish. He gave me enough kels ta keep us for a year, me and my men and our families.”

  “What color were the man’s eyes, then?” Shan-il asked, prodding at the man.

  The man’s eyes went from Ander to Shan-il and then over to Commander Eran. He paused.

  “Speak!” Eran said.

  “All right, they was yellow eyes, yellow as a wolf’s!” the man said.

  Ander turned away. He knew who that description fit, and he was sick at heart.

  Shan-il stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Do not expect this scum will necessarily tell you the truth, my lord.”

  “It is nothing people have not been telling me,” he replied. “Let us go back. I am exhausted. This man will be questioned more at the castle, I am sure.” He wanted nothing more than to get away, back to his room, and be left alone while he took in this new turn of events.

  The girl tied to the saddleback watched, unexpectedly still. She watched Ander remount and did not say a word. Ander also said nothing as they reloaded the prisoner and began the ride back to Lake Heart.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kirian spent the morning at the Healer’s Clinic. When she returned, the Castle was unusually silent. The guards were stiff and watchful. The man who had been nodding greetings to Kirian for the last sennight stared past her. His knuckles were white as he gripped his spear.

  There were extra guardsmen at the stairs that led from the common hall to the royal family’s rooms. The servant who scuttled past her as she made her way to the back stairs did not say a word. In the kitchens, a maid gave her some bread and fruit but only shook her head when Kirian asked what was happening.

  Sunlight from the open window painted her tiny room. Kirian dropped her Healer’s bag on the table. As soon as she had filled a mug from the pitcher on the table, someone knocked on the door. Kirian sighed and went to answer; it could only be some messenger from Yhallin. But when she opened the door she was surprised to see Chiss in the hallway.

  “May I enter, Hon Kirian?” Chiss asked. He glanced up and down the hallway, as if checking for observers.

  She nodded and opened the door. “Certainly. Is something wrong?”

  “I need your help,” Chiss said.

  “What is it?” She closed the door behind him.

  “There was an attempt on Lord Ander earlier today, as he rode at Lake Heart.”

  “Is he all right? Does he need a Healer?” Kirian lifted the pitcher, raising an eyebrow in question. Chiss shook his head.

  “No, thank you,” he said. “
Lord Ander is fine, but several guardsmen were killed or injured, and Lord Froman—who was with him—apparently led astray by the same attackers.”

  “That is why the Castle was so tense when I returned.”

  “Part of the reason. Hon Kirian, they captured two of the boy’s attackers, a man and a girl.”

  “A child? What have they done with her?”

  “I will tell you.” Chiss paused to take a deep breath, as though he had not had time for this simple action lately. His mouth was tight with strain.

  “Come, sit down,” she said. “You need a moment, I think. You can speak just as easily sitting down.”

  Chiss sat on the wooden chair at the foot of her bed. He took another deep breath. “The man gave the guard commander some information about who hired him to ambush Lord Ander.”

  “That is good, isn’t it?” she said, watching Chiss’ tense expression.

  He shook his head. “Not good at all, Hon Kirian. The King and Lord Dionar—his lord commander, you know of him? They questioned the man again, with the same results.”

  “Are you going to tell me what the prisoner said?” Her nerves were thrumming with tension.

  “The beggar said a yellow-eyed righ hired him.”

  “But Lord Callo is held behind locked doors! How could he have done such a thing, even if he wished to?”

  Chiss shrugged. “People fear his ku’an magery. It is no surprise they believe he can use it to influence people how he wills, locked doors or no. Anyway, King Martan commanded Dionar to be rid of the prisoner immediately. Dionar sheared his head off right there in the cells, with the little girl watching from the next cell. There was no hearing in the court, no witnesses other than Lord Ander and Balan, nothing.”

  “This is awful.” What would happen to Callo now, with no one to defend his innocence in this attack? “Does Lord Callo know all this? And why are you here? Is a Healer needed? Is the child ill?”

  “If we bring her here, will you help hide her until we find a better place?”

  Kirian stared at him. “Hide her from King Martan in his own castle?”

  “There is no other choice. The world will believe that Lord Callo hired thugs to kill Lord Ander. If the girl is also slain, there will be no one to say my lord Callo is innocent.”

  “Surely Lord Ander knows better than to think Callo would harm him thus.”

  “I also thought better of Lord Ander,” Chiss said. His usually quiet voice was harsh. “In fact he has accepted the slander with a whole heart. He has said nothing in defense of Lord Callo. He even stood silent while the attacker was slain. He believes the word of a thieving slum rat over his experience of Lord Callo. I cannot understand it.”

  “All right. But how will you get the girl from the cells? You can’t just walk in and take her.”

  Chiss waved a hand. “Already done. Balan ran Gesset took her secretly from the cells this morning. They have since discovered her absence, and the castle is alert for her.”

  “Well, bring her then! Every minute they are walking around is one more minute they could be caught.”

  Chiss left the room and vanished down the hallway. A moment later Kirian heard hushed voices. She opened the door and Balan ushered in a mop-haired child who glared at Kirian over the gag that bound her mouth.

  “Hon Kirian,” Balan said, looking red in the face. “My apologies. Thank you for your offer of aid.”

  “Why is she gagged like that? I hope she can breathe.” Kirian approached the girl to loosen the gag, but Balan raised a hand.

  “I would not do that until we are certain we are safe,” he said. “She nigh screamed the cell down, and I was forced to gag her. It is fortunate we were not discovered then. You will notice her hands are also tied.”

  Kirian looked at the girl. “Will you be silent?”

  Pale eyes glared at her from over the gag.

  “If you are not, you will be back in their hands momentarily,” Chiss said. “You know what they did to your co-conspirator?”

  The girl took a deep breath and nodded. Balan stepped behind her and loosed the gag. The girl shook her head to free herself from the cloth.

  “What is your name, child?” Chiss asked.

  “I ain’t your child,” the girl said.

  “It will make it easier to talk if you tell us,” Kirian said.

  “Name’s Mot,” she said. “And that’s all you’ll be getting out of me.”

  Balan loosed the cord that restrained the girl’s hands. As soon as she was free she shook out her hands and then spun away, standing with her back to the open window and facing all three of them.

  “We mean you no harm,” Chiss said.

  “Sure ya don’t. That’s why you tied me up and sneaked me here, ’cause you mean me no harm.” Mot mimicked Chiss’ educated tones.

  “Well, we actually don’t,” Kirian said. “I am a Healer. If you know anything of healers, you know I will do nothing to hurt you. Your father was slain today by the King’s lord commander, so . . .”

  “He wasn’t me father!”

  “All right. Nonetheless, we thought it likely you would meet the same fate,” Balan said. “You should cooperate. You are safer here.”

  “I’m safer in my own place, with my own family!” Mot said.

  “Sit here.” Kirian gestured to the single chair that Chiss had vacated. “There is some food here. Are you hungry?”

  “I don’t want your food!” Mot still glared at them from beneath dirty curls, but she did sit on the wooden chair. Kirian thought she could see the girl’s hands trembling. Later, when the girl was calmer, Kirian thought she should make sure Mot had no injuries.

  “Chiss, would you do the honors?” she asked.

  The servant nodded. He walked to the tray that held the fruit and bread Kirian had brought for her own meal. As he poured water from the jug, Kirian drew Balan away toward the other side of the room.

  “I do not understand why you are involved in this,” she said. “I assume you are not trying to entrap us somehow, and report us all to Lady Dria Mar or the King.”

  Muscles rippled as Balan crossed his arms over his chest. “I will not turn you in. I felt this girl was only safe as long as they did not realize what she knew. As soon as they did, they would slay her too, and the secret of who was behind the attack on my Lord Ander would be unrecoverable.”

  “You also do not believe it was Lord Callo.”

  Balan looked her in the eye. “I hope I am not wrong. I have known Lord Callo for years, and I do not believe he would do this. If this brat is killed, there will be no way to clear his name.”

  “I have heard Lord Ander is not so loyal.”

  Balan grimaced. “He is not disloyal. He has been fed this story by his lady mother, and now it is confirmed. He wishes not to believe it, but all the evidence says it is so. He likes Lord Callo.”

  “King Martan also does not want the accusation against Lord Callo confirmed,” Chiss said, joining them. “That is why he slew the prisoner in secret.”

  “We all know why King Martan wants to protect Callo’s reputation,” Kirian said. She sighed. “All right, then! I suppose I haven’t had enough of intrigue and stealth last season, so I will gladly help now.” She turned to look over at the girl who sat near the window.

  The wooden tray lay upside down on the floor, the fruit and bread scattered around. Mot glowered, arms crossed.

  Kirian said, “If you choose not to eat it, that is your decision.”

  “I must go make some arrangements for this child,” Balan said. “Can you manage her until that is done?”

  “I am supposed to go to Mage Yhallin in another candlemark,” Kirian said. “If I do not go, she will be suspicious. Chiss, can you watch this handful until I return?”

  Chiss sighed. “I must, I suppose.”

  “Be brave, man,” Balan said. He slapped Chiss on the back with a friendly blow that knocked the servant off balance. “That little girl can’t hurt you.”

/>   “She rather looks as if she could,” Kirian said. “Be careful, Chiss.”

  Kirian went to Yhallin as usual, but the mage had been summoned to the King’s side, along with Mage Oron and any other of Sharpeyes’ inner circle who could be trusted. Kirian left a message with Yhallin’s slave and went back to her rooms.

  Kirian knocked on her own door. “It is just me,” she said. “Let me in.”

  There was no response. After a moment, Kirian pushed against the door and it slid open. It was not barred from the inside. She did not immediately see anyone inside; then her eyes went to a crumpled form on the floor, lying in the square of sunlight from the open window.

  “Chiss!”

  She knelt next to the manservant. He was unconscious, and blood stained the side of his face. She checked his breathing and heart, then ran her hands over Chiss’s head. She found a large bump there; the girl had obviously hit him with something heavy.

  As she sat back on her heels, Chiss began to stir. He opened his eyes, and she assisted him to sit with a hand behind his shoulders.

  “How do you feel?” she asked.

  He dropped his head into his hands. “Dizzy. Big headache.”

  She finished examining him as he sat on the floor. Then, as he seemed to be recovering, she helped him to the chair. “Stay there. I will send for Balan ran Gesset. Also, I’m going to make you some of Hon Jesel’s headache remedy; I don’t think your pain will be subsiding on its own very soon.”

  “I can’t believe that brat got away from me,” Chiss said, his voice muffled since his hands were over his face.

  Balan showed up within the candlemark, mailed and armed. “You sent for me? Hon Kirian, it will arouse suspicion if you continue to do such things. I am thought to have only the slightest of familiarity with you.”

  “Mot has escaped,” she said.

  “Jashan’s eyes, is she running loose around the castle? How long ago did this happen, Chiss?”

  “He will not know. He was knocked unconscious.” Balan looked amused. Kirian continued, “Yhallin did not keep our appointment, so I returned here right away. Mot cannot have been gone long.”