by Jane Atchley
"And the elder in the corner is my mentor, Alrick."
He must be older than dirt to look so worn out.
Rian’s eyes went wide. He barked a laugh. A moment passed and then another, he cocked his head again. "Who is Katie?"
Kree’s mind flashed to Kayseri.
Another big toothy smile accompanied by another of those slight pauses. "What is Katie?"
"His lady love."
Biggs swatted Fergus on the back of his head.
"Well, she is." Fergus rubbed his head.
"That is for the boss to say, and for you to stay clear of."
"Rian," Alrick's voice was as tarnished as old silver to Kree's ears. Time had dimmed it, but he still heard rich undertones. "The human is not telepathic. You are making him uneasy answering questions he has not asked, and he reeks of ready violence."
The young lord turned back to Kree, a look of horror on his too perfect face. "I do apologize, Kree Fawr. I did not mean to intrude upon your private thoughts." Rian shot a helpless look at Alrick. "Are you certain? He is so loud. And he knows something about Sandahl."
"Get out of his mind!" Alrick crossed the room in a flash of speed Kree did not think possible in one so old and laid a gnarled hand flat against Kree’s temple. "Shelet,"
Magic tingled along Kree’s scalp. Grabbing the elf by the throat, he held the elder off. "Don’t touch me." Kree glared at the Nhurstari. "None of you touch me."
Rian sat down on a wine cask cradled his head in his hands, and rocked slowly back and forth, while Alrick made quick placating gestures. "Rian means no harm. The Majority Apparent is young and extraordinarily telepathic. I took the liberty of shielding you, since you do not seem to possess natural shields. I only meant to help."
"The next one of you who helps me is going to be picking his pointy teeth up off the floor." Kree glared around.
"Take it easy, boss. They're solid."
One of Nhurstari twins, Eoin or Eamon, Kree could not tell which handed him a cup of wine. "We are not trying to anger you. Why would we? You killed a Nhurstari enchanter not long since. I smell his death on you. These other humans are fighters and they have killed, but you...your scent—Are you so mighty a killer then?"
Rian jerked his head up. "A man cannot help his scent, Eamon." He snuffed the air like a hound. "He reeks of enchantment, not violence. We are smelling protection wards, I think, although I don't recognize their making. Please sit down, beloved cousin."
Kree drained the cup and set it on top of a nearby cask. This meeting was going badly. He moistened his lips and addressed himself to Rian. "Eamon is right. Several days ago, I’ve lost track, I killed the Nhurstari who abducted Princess Sandahl." Kree turned his attention to Eamon. "I don’t like being called a killer unless I'm the one doing the calling. I am a cavalryman, a soldier. I know Wilderkin don’t like the way I smell, not even the ones I call friends. I can ask your pardon for it, but as Prince Rian pointed out, I cannot change it."
"Just Rian." The elf motioned for more wine for himself and for Kree. "What are Wilderkin? I don’t know this term."
"It’s the term we humans give to your races. It includes elves, pixies, and fairies, all your basic long-lived, pointy-eared types. You asked me what Katie is. She is a pixie-human hybrid with just a touch of elf thrown in on her father’s side. She’s what the folks who locked you down here are likely afraid will happen to your race if you go through with your alliance with the Thallasi. Mostly, Katie is…someone I failed to protect just as failed your little princess."
"Is Sandahl here?"
"Yeah, she's here. Your enemy has her."
"Then she shall be treated well. I thought she traveled with Prince Eldren?"
"We lost him to a mercenary attack. I'm sorry."
After a long pause, Rian took a sip of wine and gave a wistful smile. "I saw your Katie in your mind, a dark little beauty and very dear to you."
Kree eased himself onto a wine cask. "I wish I knew if Katie is...treated well."
Rian tilted his head in that curious way of his again. His amber eyes sparkled with a look Kree knew too well. Mischief. "Can she hear you?"
A frown puckered Kree’s brow. He remembered Kayseri and Eldren with their heads bent together talking without words in the same unsettling way Rian had answered questions he had not asked. He thought about of all the times she had used pixie mischief to spy on him. "Absolutely not. And even if she could, I can’t."
"But I can." Rian grinned. "I can act as a conduit to anyone who has ever heard you. Does Sandahl hear you?"
"I don’t know."
Rian smiled. "You are very loud. I do not see how she could fail to hear you if only in passing. Would you like me to try?"
Kree’s natural aversion to magic other than Goddess magic made him hesitate, but his desire for news of Kayseri overwhelmed his misgivings. "What would I have to do?"
"Open your mind. Show me a clear picture of Sandahl. I have never seen her."
Easily done. Kree had years of military discipline to draw on. He concentrated on Sandahl. Only Sandahl.
An inner radiance lit Rian’s face. His breath sucked in. "Oh. How pretty she is. I see you admire her."
"Yeah, I do. She's a lot tougher than she looks. You'll see. How’s this work?"
"If Sandahl touched your mind she left trace. I will find it and follow it to her. The method is sort of like tracking." Rian tilted his head, studying Kree’s expression. "Be easy, Kree Fawr. Not all Nhurstari can do this. Perhaps Alrick could, but I know of no other. I will speak aloud so you can hear, and I will repeat her answers for you. However, I am not an enchanter. I cannot cast. I will have to touch you. Most Nhurstari work their talents through touch."
Kree offered his hand.
Rian expected to find a maze of trace in a mind so open. To his surprise, he sensed himself, Alrick, an older trace of a mature elf, and a soft recent trace of a young elf in the image Kree held of Sandahl. He followed it.
"Sandahl?"
No response.
"Sandahl."
"Who are you?"
Rian was delighted. His princess was strong and unafraid. "Rian."
"Prince Rian? How?"
"Just Rian. I followed the trace you left behind when you touched Kree Fawr. He doesn’t look happy about it. I’ll remind him that without your small transgression, I would not be able to ask his all-important question. How is his Katie?"
"She is well. We have been together since the captain went crazy on the lawn. We are worried even though Kayseri’s bond to him allowed us to know he was not dead."
Rian blinked. "Bond?" He met Kree’s tense, eager gaze. "Your Katie is well. They are together."
"Do not tell him about the bond."
"Why not?"
Another pause. "Kayseri does not want him to know. It is a great mystery. That’s why I touched him. Please, you must not tell him."
"Ask her where they are housed under what sort of guard," Kree said.
Rian repeated the questions and answered. "At the moment they are with Hueil in the great hall. They have the upstairs corner bedchamber in the south wing. They are not locked in, but they are guarded by Hueil's followers."
"Could Katie mischief her way out and find Red Fist?"
Rian relayed the question and shook his head. "Her talent is known to the man, Colt. He watches her."
"Colt is here. Something is happening."
Silence.
"Sandahl?" Rian dropped Kree’s hand. "She said the Colt person was there. She said something was happening. She broke our connection."
"Get her back."
"I cannot. She’s gone." Rian heaved a sigh and accepted the goblet of wine Alrick pressed into his hands. "Sandahl has a strong beautiful essence. Alrick, what do you think Hueil means to do with her?"
"I think Hueil means to raise our House to Majority. Once done." The elder shrugged eloquently. "There will be no reason for you to complete this abominable marriage, and he will send the
girl back to her people."
Kree gave a loud snort. "You think that old man, if it gives you comfort. The truth is Hueil is going to kill Rian and the princess or hold them captive indefinitely. I believe he will kill them. Blame their deaths on humans and call for war. It is a call Thallasi will answer." He rapped Rian’s knee with his hand. "If this were my coup, I’d have killed you already. Dead hostages are so much easier to handle. Hueil must have a compelling reason for not doing so."
Rian stared at his mentor a long moment. "My father negotiated a good match for me, Alrick. Now that I’ve talked to the female and felt her promise, I want this match. She is well-worth waiting for."
He paced the floor, his long fingered hands folded into the small of his back. "My father still lives and the council have not confirmed my succession. If I am not present to press my claim, there will be other contenders. Of those, Hueil’s House has the best connections. Beyond that, win or lose, he will want to ransom me." Rian stopped pacing. "This is how Nhurstari play the game of Houses or else we would revert to the old days of endless blood feuds. Still, your perspective fills me with a troubling vision, but what can I do?"
"You can tell me about Hueil. Tell me about the elves loyal to him. Is this a widespread coup or an isolated one? What magic, uh, talents do they have on their side? What resources do we have? Does he have more enchanters like the one I killed? Tell me about this building. How many doors, how man windows? Can you draw a floor plan? What are servants’ routines?"
Rian settled himself back on the wine cask he had vacated. "I can tell you all of that, but to what end?"
A crooked grin tugged at Kree’s lips. "There’s an old saying where I come from. It goes like this: You can’t hold a demon unless you chain him to the wall. This cellar of yours cannot hold me."
"And if you were chained to the wall?" Rian laughed.
Kree grinned. "Then my escape would take a little longer."
***
The fine hair on Kayseri's arms stood on end when Colt swaggered into the room. A shiver shook her. Did the air actually turn colder? Thanks to Nhurstari healers, one would never guess Kree had shattered the man’s kneecap only two days past. She shivered again as his cold black gaze raked her. She had chosen her gold colored gown’s daring décolletage to tempt her captain. Back in Arbala, it seemed like a good idea. Now Kayseri wished for something less revealing. One hand slipped up to cover her bosom. The devil mercenary winked at her as he made his way to their host. Hueil had insisted they call him their host.
"Lord Hueil, my men and I are ready to depart. I trust our service was everythin’ you expected?"
"Everything and more."
"There’s jus’ the little matter of my payment."
Hueil shifted in his chair. "I understood my steward had seen to that."
Colt closed in on the Nhurstari lord, placed his hands on the arms of the elf's chair and leaned in close. "You hired me to kidnap a child not to go up against some Goddess-sucking temple champion. You've cost me several good men, and I demand compensation."
A look of pure astonishment even a dash of fear bloomed on Hueil’s face. Under other circumstances, Kayseri would have laughed at the old elf's discomfort.
"You want more gold?"
"I want the champion’s tart so's he understands what loss is."
Nhurstari guards slip silently into the room responding to Hueil's telepathic summons. For a man working for Wilderkin Colt was ignorant of their ways.
"The female is the worst sort of mongrel." Hueil said. "However, she is under the protection of a Thallasi princess. She is, therefore, not mine to give. You may ransom the Templemen, and you may have the champion’s life for those you have lost."
"No!" Kayseri jumped to her feet. Sandahl dragged at her hand, but Kayseri shook her off.
Colt smiled cold as winter. "No?"
Kayseri chewed her lower lip, thinking fast. "Free My Captain and I will come with you. Him for me."
"Such a devoted little tart. How does he inspire it, I wonder?" Colt reached Kayseri’s side in two strides. His fingers dug into her arms. His hard gaze traveled the length of her body. Icy panic shot through her, but an image of Kree alive and free gave her the courage to lift her chin and look her tormentor in the eyes. "Do we have a deal?"
"We do indeed, little tart." Colt hauled Kayseri toward the door, stopped and turned back to Hueil. "Here's a last piece of advice free of charge." He crossed to elf and whispered in the Nhurstari's ear.
Chapter Seventeen
As morning wore toward afternoon, the cousins gathered around offering details Rian had overlooked. Biggs and Fergus listened intently. Alrick, rebuffed by his prince, sat in one corner nursing a mug of honey wine. The Nhurstari surprised Kree. He respected the Majority Apparent and his companions. They were as impatient with their captivity and as eager to take action as he was. They were fresh and alive as unlike the staid Thallasi as night was to day. Kree liked them. He had Rian rehearse every detail a second and even a third time as they all bent over the floor plan drawn on the top of a wine cask.
Suddenly, Garen cocked his head to the side in that odd bird-like way the Nhurstari had. "Someone is coming." He dropped his hip onto the edge of the cask just as the door opened at the top of the stairs. The tail of his cloak covered the drawing.
Kree recognized the newcomer as the elf whose magic had felled him. There were several other elves with him all of them armed to their pointy teeth.
When Rian stood, his youthful awkwardness vanished. Kree stationed himself behind and slightly to the right of the Majority Apparent forming a bulwark behind the young male and clearly declared his allegiance. His Templemen moved into position on the other side to them.
The older elf inclined his head to the younger. "Are you comfortable, Rian? Do you have all you need?"
"I am surrounded by the best Nhurstari vintages. I am making interesting new friends. There are hardly any rats. I lack nothing aside from my liberty."
Hueil favored Rian with a razor thin smile. "I did not come to spar with you First Heir, though it is always amusing. I came for the large human." A slight nod directed Hueil's elves toward Kree. "Place your hands behind your back, kneel on the floor, and allow my guards to secure you. The other humans will stand away."
Rian blocked the guards’ path. The look of puzzlement on the young Nhurstari’s face amazed Kree. Rian was what then, a hundred-year-old innocent?
"Explain yourself, Hueil."
Two Nhurstari tied Kree’s wrists and elbows, and dragged him to his feet.
"You are so noble, Rian. So trusting. It is your greatest fault." Hueil shook his head in mock wonder. "How could a babe such as you guide the Nhurstari for a day? Allow me to keep things simple. So simple even a babe can understand them. Ransom has been arranged for this human. I suspect this news will not please him, and I want no more violence from him."
Kree’s head snapped toward Hueil. Ransomed? He could not imagine Duncan paying ransom. But then again, he could. His first lieutenant had a far cooler head than most men of war possessed preferrng words over swords. An accommodation might suit Duncan.
"Ransomed how?" Kree said.
"Ah." Hueil folded his hands before him. "It is quite romantic actually. The mongrel female sold herself to my hired man in exchange for your freedom."
His words hit Kree as a blow to the chest. His heart stuttered. His legs failed. On his knees, arms bound behind him, he threw back his head and roared. Nhurstari guards hauled him to his feet and manhandled him toward the stairs, but he broke free and lunged into Biggs. "Be ready." Kree snarled at the startled Templeman before the guards overpowered him and pushed him up the stairs.
Outside the shadows lengthened toward evening. Two additional guards waited armed with Nhurstari long bows and fell in with the others as they marched Kree deep into the forest. He wondered if they planned to set him free or execute him. Who had promised Kayseri his freedom? Had she made her bargain with Colt? If
so, Kree didn't give a copper lady for his survival. Whatever else Colt was, he was a hired killer who knew better than to leave enemies at his back.
Kree could not tell how long they marched. The moon had not risen and the forest's thick canopy blocked out the stars. They reached a small clearing and stopped. Night creatures crawled through the undergrowth. In the distance, a wolf called mournfully to its pack.
Their leader pushed at Kree's shoulder. "You will sit."
Kree went first to his knees, then over onto his hip.
"Legs straight front," the leader said.
Two Nhurstari knelt on Kree's thighs while another held a drawn bow pointed directly at his chest. Still another pulled Kree's boots off and tied his ankles. When his legs were secure, their leader moved in and cut the rope binding his elbows, leaving his wrists bound. The elf scored Kree’s arms with shallow cuts meant to bleed freely, and pitched the knife into the underbrush. He stared down a Kree. "I regret there is no honor in my orders."
Kree gave the elf a curt nod. He was a soldier. He understood. Abandoning him to predators kept the letter of Kayseri's bargain. If freed himself and survive fine. If not, fine. The moment the elves disappeared into the trees, Kree closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, and tried to relax the muscles in his arms and shoulders. What he was about to attempt would hurt like the very hells if it worked at all. He took another steadying breath and centered himself. Leveraging the pressure of the ropes against his own muscle, he dislocated his left shoulder, rolled onto his back, and rocked back and forth until he had worked his hands under his hips. With a little more painful wriggling and rocking, he worked his legs through the circle of his arms.
He lay on the ground panting. A light sheen of sweat coated his skin. Goddess sodden hell! That hurt. But his hands were in front where he wanted them. He sat up and set to gnawing on the knots. His left arm throbbed like the devil. If only he could pop his shoulder back into place as easily as the contortionist who had shown him the trick had done. Wouldn't that be something?
A birdcall sounded off to his left, a twittering sea bird’s cry out of place in the mountains. Duncan. Kree left off chewing the knots and answered the call. The sound horses approaching through the trees rewarded him, and moment later, Aimery Duncan lead Red Fist into the tiny clearing.