“Gideon, I cannot swear that I am completely free of that bastard’s influence. If at any point you have doubts about my loyalties or my actions, don’t hesitate to act. Your duty is to protect Lady Merewen and her people.”
“You don’t need to remind me of my duty, Kane,” Gideon snapped.
Kane leaned in close enough to grasp Gideon’s sword arm. “Swear by the goddess that you won’t fail to do what’s necessary if I’m the source of the danger. I would rather die than dishonor all that we have done.”
It was his captain who slowly nodded, accepting the burden of the vow. But it was his friend who took Kane’s hand in his own and said, “Your honor is my honor, Kane. You have never failed me in all our time together. I will not fail you in this.”
His words lifted a weight off Kane’s shoulders. “I’ll send out the scouts and then find you. And, Gideon, if you still want me to, I will pitch my tent next to yours. With the battle soon upon us, I would spend these last hours with my friends.”
Gideon smiled. “I would have it no other way.”
* * *
Ifre wasn’t used to manual labor, but he didn’t want anyone other than Sergeant Markus to know Kane had succeeded in destroying his altar, the symbol of Ifre’s power. It would be seen as a sign of weakness by anyone who thought to stand against him.
Markus had made inquiries about the troubadour. Just as expected, the man had disappeared. The sergeant had verified the man’s belongings, his horse, and dogs were all gone.
Ifre swept up another shovelful of broken rock and dust. If he didn’t hate Kane so much, he would have admired the warrior. Whatever the man had used to shatter the altar, he’d done a thorough job of it. Perhaps he’d had help. Was the troubadour a mage as well? If so, he would’ve left behind some trace of his magic. Ifre muttered a curse. Why hadn’t he thought to check earlier? By now even the residue of Kane’s powerful magic had faded. Ifre held his hands over the pile of rubble, his fingers spread wide as he chanted softly under his breath.
Nothing. Not even a faint tingle other than the familiar feel of Kane’s magic. That was reassuring. Having one powerful mage set against Ifre was bad enough.
Picking up the broom that the sergeant had left for him, Ifre started on the far side and swept the dust toward the area where the altar had stood. As he worked, something sparkled in the pile of dust. He used the broom to clear away the dust, revealing a piece of gold wire. Reluctant to touch anything Kane might have left behind, he bent down to study his find.
It was a pin, and judging by its length, the kind used to fasten a cloak. He held his hand over it briefly, but sensed no magic attached to it. Even so, he used a bit of rag to pick it up and carried it over toward the fire pit, where the light was brighter.
Just as he suspected, it was a stick pin, one he recognized. The pin used to belong to Ifre’s own mother, part of the jewelry that was handed down from one generation to the next. His brother, Armel, had gifted his wife with the collection on their wedding day.
So this pin hadn’t belonged to Kane or the troubadour. It was Theda’s. All the pieces fell into place, solving the mystery of how Kane’s friend managed to infiltrate Ifre’s stronghold without being caught. Clearly she’d led him through the great hall and then somehow unlocked the door to the labyrinth for him. Most likely they’d used her pin to pick the lock on the shackles and lost it in their hurry to escape.
The only question that remained was why Theda would risk so much for a man like Kane. But the answer was obvious. Somehow she had subverted Kane’s allegiance to Ifre for her own purposes. Had she betrayed Ifre, thinking to win her freedom? If so, why had Kane left her behind? She should have known better than to trust a common mercenary. If he would betray Ifre, then why not her?
None of that mattered. Her actions would cost Theda dearly, starting with the blood and lives of her friends. Their virginal blood would restore the strength of his magic. They’d die screaming as Theda watched, helpless to do anything to relieve their suffering.
Then Theda herself would learn the feel of his knife and the depth of his vengeance.
Markus’s arrival interrupted his thoughts. Ifre shoved the pin in his pocket, looking forward to the moment he confronted Theda with her crimes.
“Ah, Sergeant, I’m glad you’re here.”
Markus saluted Ifre. “Sire, I have news.”
The sergeant was careful to keep the entrance to the tunnel to his back, so most likely the news wasn’t good and Markus thought to escape Ifre’s wrath. Did the fool really think he’d be able to reach safety that way? He’d seen what had happened to Kane when he’d tried to escape Ifre’s control. Markus would stand no chance at all against Ifre’s power.
“Well, I’m waiting.”
Markus drew a deep breath before speaking. “One of my men confessed there’d been a problem when he was assigned to guard the hall. The fool had a skin of wine that he stopped to drink from when he thought he heard a noise. The next thing he remembers is waking up sprawled in one of the hallways stinking of wine.”
“Has his drinking been a problem before?”
“No, Sire. He’s one of my most dependable men, which is why I assigned him to this particular duty. I believe he was rendered unconscious and dragged to that hall.” The sergeant sounded defensive, as if he knew how improbable the guard’s story sounded.
“I believe him, too, Sergeant. I have found evidence that we have a traitor in our midst, but it wasn’t a member of my personal guard. Despite Captain Kane’s treachery, you and your men are above reproach.”
Markus looked marginally happier, but then he frowned. “Then you know who the traitor is?”
“I do.”
He immediately unwrapped the pin and held it out for Markus’s inspection. The sergeant stepped forward to stare down at the piece of jewelry.
Recognition wasn’t long in coming. “It bears your family crest, Sire. Are you saying Lady Theda is the traitor?”
Ifre returned the damning piece of evidence to his pocket, his expression grave. “That’s exactly what I am saying, Sergeant. For the moment, I do not plan to accuse her of crimes against the crown. Once I have restored my altar, though, she will answer for her betrayal. When I am ready, you will deliver her and her ladies to me here.”
For a brief second, Markus looked shocked, but it didn’t last long. The man was nothing if not pragmatic. He knew full well that he would have to produce the women or take their place.
“Yes, Sire. Until that time, is there anything else I can do to assist you?”
“Empty the cart and then return to finish the rest of the cleanup. The stonemason assured me that my new altar will be ready by tomorrow at the latest.”
As Markus trudged back down the passage with the heavily laden cart, Ifre picked up the broom and went back to work. By this time tomorrow, he would begin the arduous process of rebuilding his power. Once Damijan was up to full strength, he would unleash it upon his enemies.
And then maybe upon his friends.
* * *
Theda watched her brother-in-law from afar. He’d been remarkably calm since losing Kane, which was far more disturbing than if he’d exploded with fury. He hated being thwarted in any way, and this had been a major defeat for him. Why was he taking it so calmly?
A chill of dread washed over her. He wasn’t calm. He was plotting. With Kane and his friend safely out of reach, that meant Ifre had another target in mind for his revenge. The possibilities were limited, each one worse than the next.
There was the guard that Averel had rendered unconscious. Had the man regained his memory of what had happened? If he claimed to have been attacked, would Sergeant Markus believe him? As far as she knew, the man hadn’t seen her at all, so at least he couldn’t point a finger in her direction.
Then there was Tom. There were only so many ways into the building. Had Ifre or Sergeant Markus figured out Averel had come in through that door? She’d known she was putting her f
riend at risk, but her need to help Kane had left her no choice.
Should she warn him? Yes. Tom needed to disappear before it was too late. He would resist leaving, but she wouldn’t let him die because he’d remained her friend. If Kane and his friends were successful, he would be able to return to the city soon. If they weren’t, the capital wouldn’t be a fit place for anyone to live.
That left her. Ifre had always had plans for her once her mandatory time of mourning was over. She still had a month left before custom declared she could remarry. If Kane had been willing, she would have ignored the tradition, but she was grateful for the scant protection it had offered her from Ifre.
If Ifre somehow connected her to Kane’s escape, nothing would save her. They’d been so careful, and she’d returned to her quarters without being seen. She’d hidden her bloody dress and then later destroyed it. Her slippers, too. The only thing she’d kept was her cloak. After washing it clean of Kane’s blood, it was as good as new.
“Are you all right, Lady Theda?”
She’d been so lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed Sergeant Markus’s approach. He offered her a cup of wine.
“I noticed you were looking a bit pale and thought perhaps a drink would help.”
She had no choice but to accept the wine. To refuse in so public a place would draw too much unwanted attention to them both. Although she hated to admit it, the wine did taste good to her.
“Thank you, Sergeant. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
Then she noticed the emblem pinned to his tunic. “Forgive me for not noticing sooner. Congratulations on your promotion, Captain Markus.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “Thank you, my lady. I was honored when Duke Keirthan offered me the position.”
She took another sip of her drink. “I hadn’t heard that Captain Kane had resigned.”
“The duke chose not to make a formal announcement about his departure. It was rather, shall we say, unexpected.”
“You have served the duke well, Captain. I’m sure he will reward you for your loyalty.”
She started to excuse herself when the first wave of dizziness hit her. By the second wave, it felt as if the floor beneath her feet was rolling. She latched onto Markus’s arm for support at the same time a small voice in her head screamed that this was his doing, that he’d drugged her.
“My lady, you don’t appear to be well. Please allow me to escort you from the hall.”
She wanted to refuse, wanted to do anything but let Ifre’s lackey lead her away from the relative safety of the crowded hall. Her feet wouldn’t obey her, and her throat refused to give voice to her growing terror.
With her mind under the control of whatever drug Ifre had ordered Markus to give her, she couldn’t trust anything she saw or heard. But as Markus unlocked the door that led to the labyrinth below, she could have sworn she heard him whisper, “I’m sorry.”
Chapter 26
The wood smoke trickled up through the trees overhead. The women had yet to join them, so for the moment it was only the six warriors seated in a circle around the fire. Kane knew it wouldn’t last, but he would enjoy the few minutes of peace with his friends. No one seemed moved to talk, but men were often quiet on the night before a battle. As he sipped his tea, Kane studied each of the men who had been his friends for more lifetimes than he could remember.
Of all of them, he hoped young Averel would be released from the Lady’s service and allowed to live a long and full life. Despite everything that had happened to them in the service of the gods and even before, Averel had managed to hold on to his good nature. As if sensing Kane’s scrutiny, he looked up from tending the fire and grinned.
Kane nodded in response before turning his attention in Duncan’s direction. He was the second one who deserved far better out of life than he’d been given. With a mind like his, he should have been a renowned scholar, not sitting in the dirt honing a sword.
Murdoch and Sigil sat side by side, their odd friendship a surprise to them all. The big man’s gaze was never far from Lady Alina, another odd pairing, but perhaps not. Murdoch rarely spoke of his youth, but it was obvious that it had been as brutal as Alina’s marriage to her late husband. Clearly, the petite woman and the giant of a man had found solace in each other’s arms.
Sigil was a puzzle. He seemed to possess a strong sense of honor, yet he’d served that bastard Duke Keirthan. Of course, so had Kane for a short time, so who was he to judge? The Lord and Lady had seen fit to accept the man into their service. That was good enough for Kane. He just hoped Sigil didn’t come to regret his decision to become one of the Damned.
That left Gideon, the first friend Kane had ever made. Few had ever bothered to look past the mark on Kane’s cheek and his dark looks to the man inside. Back in his youth, the world had been such a superstitious place. People assumed that because he’d been marked by dark magic on the outside that he carried its taint on his soul.
Gideon had dismissed the common belief and had given Kane a chance to prove himself. Through the captain, Kane had gained this circle of friends. Kane would die for Gideon and the others. Had, in fact, and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again. A man could do no less for his brothers, a family born out of blood and pain and held together by loyalty and honor.
Gideon poked at the fire with a stick, sending up a shower of sparks. “We need to discuss plans.”
As he looked around the circle, everyone went from relaxed to alert. “We cannot hide an army for long, not even a small one such as ours. We have to be ready to fight by tomorrow morning.”
Frowning, he stared into the flames. “The scouts encountered at least two patrols of Keirthan’s forces in the area. It’s only a matter of time before they cross our trail.”
So far, nothing he said accounted for why Gideon was holding that stick in a white-knuckled grip. If Kane had to guess, the true source of his friend’s tension could be laid at the feet of the three women headed their way. Kane sympathized, but it was too late to send them back to safety even if they were willing to go.
The men made room for them around the fire. Gideon waited until everyone was settled again before continuing. “As much as I hate to divide our efforts, we will face Keirthan’s forces on three fronts. He is a coward and will send his men to die upon our swords while he remains hidden behind the thick walls of his city.”
Kane spoke up. “And his weapon, if he has brought it back to full strength, can be fired without him ever leaving his underground chambers.”
“Which is why we need to attack from three directions.” Gideon used the stick to draw a rough diagram in the dust. “Murdoch and I will lead our forces on a direct assault, hoping to draw Keirthan’s troops out of the city. Barring that, at least we will hold their attention. At first light, Murdoch will take half of the men and circle around to come in from the east. Once they are in position, the rest of our forces will attack the southern gate.”
He reached for a pair of rolled-up parchments that Merewen had brought out with her. “These are the maps that Kane and Averel have drawn for us of the surrounding area as well as of the city itself.”
He tossed one to Murdoch. “After we’re done talking, commit that to memory.”
“This next one is for you, Duncan.”
The scholarly warrior unrolled it. His face paled when he realized what Kane had drawn out for him. “This is Keirthan’s keep.”
It wasn’t a question, but Kane answered anyway. “We’ll be entering from outside of the city walls through a tunnel that leads straight to where Keirthan practices his dark arts.”
At first, Duncan looked confused. “But the goddess said I was to remain at Lavinia’s side during the battle. I can’t do that if I’m inside the city.”
The lady herself spoke up. “I will be going with you, Duncan. If I’m to counter Ifre’s magic, I need to be close to its source. Otherwise, I’m striking out blind and could do more harm than good.”
Duncan, usu
ally slow to anger, exploded. He tossed the parchment back at Gideon. “Keep this. I’m not letting Lavinia anywhere near Keirthan. He’s been hunting for her for months and knows full well she’ll never join his effort. He’s already tried to kill her three times. If Keirthan were to capture her, he’ll fuel his magic with her blood. She stays here with Merewen and Alina.”
Lavinia restrained Duncan when he started to rise. “I’m sorry, Duncan, but this is my decision to make. You reminded me back at the abbey that it was my duty to protect our people, and that’s what I’m going to do. And before you yell at the captain again, you should know that I volunteered to go. He argued long and hard against the idea.”
Kane looked up from honing his throwing knives. “The two of you won’t be going alone, Duncan. Averel and I have been in Keirthan’s chambers before, and we both know the city. Sigil will be coming along as well. Between the four of us, we will keep your lady safe.”
“You have no idea what you’re asking of her, Kane.” Duncan turned his frustration in Kane’s direction. “You can’t promise that she’ll be safe. By the gods, you almost died in those chambers yourself. I won’t put her at such risk.”
“Do not presume to tell me what I understand, Duncan.” Kane jerked upright and stabbed his knife deep into the ground to resist throwing it at his friend.
From the way Lavinia was staring at him, he suspected his eyes were glinting red and his long canine teeth were on full display. “Lady Theda risked her own life to save mine even knowing Ifre Keirthan murdered her husband, his own brother. She lives every minute of every day in his presence with nothing but her wits to keep her safe.”
Breathing hard, he retrieved his knife and wiped the blade clean on his leathers. “If Lavinia cannot stop Keirthan, Duncan, no one will be safe. No one. And we, the Damned, are almost out of time. Caution is a luxury we can no longer afford.”
Duncan clearly wanted to argue more, but Gideon stepped in. He held out the parchment again. “The decision has been made, Duncan. Murdoch and I will draw the duke’s attention in our direction. Kane, Averel, and Sigil will accompany you and Lavinia to attack the duke directly. Right now, I’d suggest you learn everything you can from Kane and Averel about Keirthan’s private lair.”
Honor's Price Page 26