by Jackie Dana
“In such a weakened state, though?” Rynar said, in mock concern. “I somehow doubt that. Really, Arric,” he said, using no title, and speaking to him as if chiding one of the charnok, “you should learn to recognize your own limitations. Yield to me, now, and I shall spare your life.” He bit back a smile, and tipped his head to see Kate and Vaj standing just beyond the tent. “Or shall she watch me kill you?”
Arric jerked his head to the side, so he could see her. “Kate, you should go.”
She did not move.
“Kate, do as I say,” he tried to order her, though his words lacked the conviction of a short time ago. “Sarnoc, take her away.”
“I’m not leaving,” she responded both to him and to the Sarnoc. “Arric, if you’re stupid enough to let him kill you, then I’ll stay here to witness it.”
“Kate,” he cried, a note of desperation in his voice now. “Please go.”
“No.”
Rynar took this opportunity to wave his sword in front of Arric’s face. “You cannot fight me any longer, you know.” He swayed his hips slightly, as if mocking him. “Even if I spare you now, I shall surely kill you in a half-dozen strokes. Do not challenge me further, for if you do, I shall be forced to seal your fate.”
“Then do it. I shall not surrender to you.” Then, with energy none of them expected, he raised his sword again and lunged towards him in a fury. As Rynar backed up, Arric shouted something unintelligible and swung the sword as if he would decapitate the Aldrish. With much faster reflexes, Rynar simply ducked, and Arric’s sword did not connect with anything, causing him to whirl around unexpectedly.
“Damn you, Aldrish,” he hissed, and attacked again. This time, his determination paid off. Although Rynar tried again to avoid him, Arric used a maneuver the Aldrish could never have expected—he bashed Rynar’s collarbone with his elbow, the impact stunning the Aldrish and causing him to fall to his knees.
Rynar could only look up, with his mouth open, as Arric raised his sword for the killing stroke, intending to deliver the mate to the blow that had gone wild just a moment before.
His intentions registered with her just in time for her to scream. “No! Don’t do it!” She ran to Arric’s side. “Don’t!”
He stared at her and then at Rynar, who glared back at him with eyes that seemed to still offer a challenge, daring him to finish it.
She understood Rynar’s expression, but she raised her hand to Arric’s arm. “Please don’t do this.”
He paused, looking from Rynar to her and back again. “Minara, I must. He killed my brother. I cannot allow him to walk from this tent alive.”
“Go ahead, fhaoli. Kill me, if you dare.” Rynar’s arrogance was astounding, given his position. “You can add me to your list of innocent Mosumi deaths.”
“Innocent?” Arric raised the tip of the sword to the height of the Aldrish’s chin, and held it level. He stood there for a moment, and as he hesitated, Rynar continued smiling.
“Aye. I had nothing to do with Bedoric’s death. He was a coward who drank the very potion he expected both of you to consume.”
That caused Arric to freeze. Still holding the sword at his opponent’s neck, Arric said, “tell me this Rynar, and perhaps I will spare you. What did you mean in your note, when you said that Kate needed to discover who she really was?”
That erased Rynar’s smile. “This is not the time or place.”
Sarnoc Vaj bowed his head, acknowledging the truth of it. “Aye, he is right.” He nodded once to Arric. “You may claim victory here, but you must also spare Rynar’s life.”
Arric bowed his head. With a sigh, he acquiesced. “Very well, Sarnoc.”
Chapter 60
Arric stood outside the tent, surveying the blood on the ground, and turned his head halfway back in the direction of Bedoric’s tent. He noticed that the sword was still in his hand, and tossed it away, as if the touch of it stung his skin.
“My father. Then my mentor and friend. And now, my brother.” Arric laughed uneasily, a hiccup of irony. The words were for no one, and everyone.
He had come to deliver justice this evening, and it had been stolen from him. Everyone who stood nearby—and the numbers of Senvosra had grown in the past few minutes—were silent as stone, to a man. Their heads were bowed.
“The deed is done, at any rate. The people must be told.”
With no notice paid to his wounds, he walked away from the tents, with the Sarnoc and Kate following him, and a line of soldiers yet again behind them. Already it was as if a funeral had begun. Arric’s boots made no sound in the grass as he walked out onto the hillside, beyond the shielding of the tent walls.
“The Vosira is dead,” he announced, much too quietly. “Please tell the men.”
Captain Joven had been standing nearby throughout the fight with Rynar. He nodded, and repeated the call, “Vosira Bedoric is dead!” to the company assembled.
Then he turned to Arric, and knelt before him, his sword offered on his outstretched palms. “Vosira,” Joven said, bowing his head. “Please forgive my past actions against you, and allow me to be the first to pledge myself to you.”
Arric stared at Joven, as if he had no idea what to do next. He shook his head as if emerging from a dream. “What is this?”
Sarnoc Vaj stepped beside him. “Your brother has gone to Yoren’s kingdom. Now you are Vosira.”
Arric shook his head vigorously. “That’s not right—what about the boy? I am Dosedra. I do not inherit this title. Ruill is Charvos, and will become Vosira.”
“Nay. Bedoric became Vosira through illegitimate means, and thus his actions dishonored his line,” Vaj explained somberly. “Your people will not follow the son of a man who stole the position through murder. However, they will follow you.” He winked, or at least she thought she saw a wink. “You were—or, should I say, are Charvos. It is your right.” He turned his gaze to Arric’s hand. “You even wear the ring.”
“I have no desire for this,” he protested, his eyes wide in what almost seemed to be panic. “Sarnoc—you know that this is not why I came here. I only wore the ring to challenge Bedoric, not to claim his title.”
“Then perhaps that means that you are ready.” Vaj bowed his head deeply towards him.
“Oh, sweet goddess,” Arric murmured, and then stared at Joven, still kneeling. As reality settled on his shoulders, he understood that now was not the time for indecision. Then he nodded. “Very well. Joven, do you swear in the name of our gods to serve me and Sarducia faithfully and with integrity, never using your service as excuse to cause unnecessary harm or injury, or bring disgrace to our land?”
Joven snapped his head up in surprise. “My lord Vosira? That is not the oath—”
“It is now. Do you swear?”
The captain swallowed. “I do swear.”
“As Vosira of Sarducia, I accept your pledge. Arise, Captain.” As Joven stood, Arric leaned towards him. “Please take charge of my brother’s body. He will need to be brought to Loraden immediately for the comrall.”
Sarnoc Vaj turned to him, his voice largely dispassionate. “Vosira, we shall conduct the formal Oath of Vosidari ceremonies in Loraden as well. I suggest that you rest here tonight, and tomorrow return home with your men. I shall see to Sofinar.” Then he stepped away, returning to the tents.
His men? Kate swallowed hard. Feeling comfortably invisible in this sea of blue tunics, she stepped back, watching Arric as he surveyed the scores of men camped beyond the Altopon stones.
It was a heady moment, she realized, when a man became a king. As Arric turned, she watched the men all fall to their knees. Back in the keep, Rynar had taught her a game called Gai, where the object was to topple your opponent’s pieces. To her, it seemed that this field was nothing more than a larger scale version of that game, and the men, bowing as one unit, were the game pieces. It was a breathtaking sight, a moment when theory became reality, when a man was transformed into a monarch.
Ar
ric’s gaze then shifted to the ridge. At least a dozen fhaoli positioned themselves there, weapons and torches in hand. They were extremely vulnerable out there, and she considered how their decision to appear represented a combination of loyalty and recklessness. Who had tipped them off, she wondered. Had a Sarnoc spoken to them? Then she turned her head back to the tent. Perhaps Sofinar told Nyvas? She had no idea, but it made sense. Now, Arric lifted his hand to wave to them, signaling that it was safe to approach. At the gesture, Fantion’s men fell to their knees instead. Even their red-haired leader knelt and lowered his head to acknowledge Arric as Vosira.
Finally, he turned to her. Of everyone on the field, other than Arric himself, she was now the only person not yet bowing to him. As soon as his eyes fell on her, she dropped into a deep curtsy, as if someone had pushed her. Momentarily surprised by her action, he just nodded and said nothing.
The ritual of transformation was complete. The battle-weary soldier, the dirty fhaoli, even the groomed and polished Dosedra—all were gone, erased forever. Now Arric was Vosira, now and forever unto his death.
The truth of what had occurred fell hard upon his shoulders, for she noticed that, humbled by the sheer scope of the moment, he had begun to tremble. Still, she didn’t fear for him. After all, he had spent the better part of his life training for this role. He was Vosira now, and she knew that he would act appropriately.
As she expected, with the bearing of a king he straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat.
“My father named me Charvos, and even now I bear the ring as proof. Now, upon my brother’s death, I have been named Vosira,” Arric announced, his voice a bit shaky. “This is not a title I coveted, and I do not take the responsibility lightly.” He surveyed the people around him. “I am Vosira. It is my pledge to you all that I will endeavor to rule with fairness and mercy. In that way I hope I will be able to earn your loyalty.”
She looked up at him. The wound from Rynar’s sword still oozed blood down his chin, but it underscored what he had endured to make it to this point. It was difficult to comprehend that he was standing here openly, amidst all these soldiers that just a short time ago would have taken him prisoner; what must he be thinking now? Not only was he standing here without fear of arrest—in sweet irony, he was now their commander!
Again, he cleared his throat, and spoke as loudly as he could. “I desire to make a proclamation this eve, and you shall all serve as my witnesses. I declare that Bhara Kate, as well as all men who have declared allegiance to Bhagal Fantion of Lesheri, and their families, shall no longer be known as fhaoli. Henceforth they are free men and women and shall again enjoy their rights as Sarducians.”
At his proclamation, members of the Senvosra nodded approval or at worst, muttered a word of apprehension. Most, in fact, just shrugged, not understanding the significance. The response was different for the men standing on the ridge. Immediately they came rushing down to greet their Vosira, shouting and whooping in joy.
Perhaps Arric had made a hasty decision, she thought humorously as the non-standard force ran through the uniformed Senvosra. Yet no one stopped them; it was a good sign with which to begin his reign.
Fantion and Lysander were first to reach Arric’s side, where they both fell to their knees to pledge their loyalty to their new Vosira. Nyvas was behind them, aided down the hill by Plunchek. The others, though, were strangers to her, but Arric seemed to know them all.
“Come now, none of that!” he said to the kneeling men, and he smiled as he motioned for them to stand. To Fantion he said, “Before things go any further, I fear I must ask a great favor of you, my friend. Fantion of Lesheri, would you be willing to serve me as Aldrish?”
Grinning broadly, Fantion nodded. “I would be honored, Vosira,” his tongue dancing over the title, to Arric’s chagrin. “You realize, however, by making that proclamation you have loosened chaos into your kingdom.” To Arric’s confused glance, he added quickly, “I meant, how are you going to run a country with the likes of us running through the castle halls and village squares?”
“You are right, Fantion,” he laughed, “how will I indeed?” Then he spied Kate again, and beckoned her over, crushing her in his arms. “It’s time to go home.”
“Not quite yet,” Sarnoc Vaj said as he returned to join the merry band of well-wishers. “Bhara Kate, I must request that you return to Altopon. We still have a few matters that must be discussed.”
“What—now?” Kate looked to her friends.
Vaj smiled, something he didn’t do often. “I understand, Bhara. There is much to celebrate. However, our new Vosira has much he must organize and prepare.” He looked at Arric. “Assuming he wants to get all these troops and supplies back to the city in time for his Oath ceremony.”
“Aye, Sarnoc,” Arric nodded. He pulled her to one side. “He’s right. I have a lot of logistics to sort out, not least of which is figuring out how many men are here and the best route to take, and then I’ll have a stack of matters to address back in Loraden. While I’d love to have you with me, I won’t have much time to talk. Best you go with Sarnoc Vaj and have a nice bed to sleep in, and an easier return to Loraden by river. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“But—”
In front of everyone, he leaned down and kissed her. “Hopefully that will hold you over until I see you again.”
Chapter 61
“You are not easy to find.”
Startled by the sudden interruption, Kate turned towards the voice. She relaxed only a little when she identified the newcomer from his trademark green. It was Pasadhi Sebachin. “Was I supposed to be?” After a long, frustrating night of tossing and turning, she had risen before dawn and left her quarters to wander the halls in the main building at Altopon, seeking respite from the chaos in her heart. Remarkably, no one had challenged her, and she had gone where she pleased. Eventually spotting a bench in a breezeway overlooking the gardens, she stretched out her legs and leaned back, glad for the warmth of a thick wool blanket she had brought along. The sun had just risen when the Pasadhi found her.
“Nay, not really.” Sebachin took a seat next to her. “Sarnoc Vaj wanted me to let you know when you awakened that he is convening all of the Sarnoc, and the laliri, later today, and wanted to make sure you would be ready.”
She blinked. “Already? To talk about the Dos—Vosira Arric?”
“I suspect so, and I’m certain he’ll wish to address the death of Sarnoc Sofinar. He was very insistent that you attend.”
She buried her head under her arms. “I can’t deal with that now. Can’t I just get a little time to think and process everything that’s happened?”
Tipping his head sideways, he noted, “you’ve had a difficult few days.”
She dared to look up at him again. He sat easily across from her, his hands resting easy on his lap, his curly hair as unruly and tangled as ever. He smiled, but it was a gentle, easy expression, neither of amusement nor judgment, just the look of someone with nothing to hide, someone at peace with himself.
“Yeah, you could say that.” She started to chew on her thumbnail. “I’m not sure I even know who I am any more. The last couple days—I haven’t been myself.” She sought out his eyes. “Have you ever felt like that? Like someone else had taken over your body, and all you could do was watch helplessly?”
He nodded. “Sometimes, when I feel the goddess Kerthal’s presence within me, it seems like I have little control over what I’m doing. It’s not a frequent sensation now, or maybe I’ve just become accustomed to it. All the same, when it happens I welcome it, because only good comes as a result.”
“Has the goddess ever had you kill someone?”
“No,” he admitted, “but I also haven’t helped to heal anyone either.” He smiled, and brushed hair from her eyes. Gently, he suggested, “would you like to tell me about it?” When she stiffened, he added, “I don’t want to pressure you, Kate. Just know that I’m here, and I want to help. I’m ha
ppy to listen.” When she hung her head down, he grasped her hand. “I heard about the guard. You must have been terrified.”
She shrugged, feeling miserable. “That’s the funny thing. I don’t know how it even happened. I knew I had to save Arric, but why did I choose that option, of all things? Why did I do that?”
“You did what you had to do.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself. God knows I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone, much less...” A tear rolled down her cheek. “But when it happened, it was like I knew exactly how to do it—like I’ve done it hundreds of times before. How could I have known that? And now, what’s weird is that I don’t even regret it, and I know I should.”
“Now, Kate, you are here, alive and well, and because of your courage, a great many wrongs have been corrected, and the rightful man is now Vosira. Isn’t that enough? I cannot be your conscience, but I don’t think you need to feel ashamed about it. You’ve aided someone you love... why should you regret it?” He looked at her from under his thick lashes. “Am I right?”
She blushed. “It isn’t that obvious, is it?”
“Hmm.” He lifted a finger to her flushed cheek, and then winked at her. “It is now.” He grinned, and she covered her face with her hands. “Before you ask, I won’t tell anyone.” Then he reached up and pulled a hand away. “Don’t be embarrassed.”
“But he’s Vosira now! I can’t...”
“He’s a man, Kate, just like me or anyone else. He wouldn’t want you to think of him in any other way.” He caught up her hands within his own. “All the same, I beg you to proceed carefully. You must be aware that some will resent an outsider being a part of his life.” When she made an involuntary jerk of her head, he smiled. “At the same time, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong to feel the way you do. I just wanted to warn you that it may be difficult.”