I'd risen long before breakfast, because I couldn't sleep. I'd tended to unwelcome paperwork, while my mind wandered often to the guests scheduled to arrive for breakfast.
Silently, I begged for one of them to be Sherra, but why wouldn't Adahi say she was coming, if she were? After all, I was dependent upon his words being truth about her continued existence.
Why would he not report on the guests?
It made no sense and I struggled to contain my hope, lest it lead to substantial disappointment.
Kage has arrived, Hunter informed me.
I will be there shortly.
We'd chosen a meeting room near Drenn's suite-it was a small library that held a long table and chairs. Drenn should have used it to meet with Council members of this sector or that, but he'd left it to collect dust and went to the Council chambers instead, to conduct his business.
All of which was self-serving, as it turned out.
Hunter had the room cleaned and made ready; I'm sure the kitchen was prepared to deliver tea and food the moment he called.
I forced myself to walk at a steady, normal pace as I left my suite in the west wing. There were hallways and stairs to navigate before arriving at the meeting room. As yet, our guests had not arrived or Hunter would have alerted me, I'm sure.
When I walked into the small library, I found Kage sitting on the left, near my seat at the head of the table.
"General Weren, Colonel Armon, Captains Levi and Caral, and escort Misten, my Prince," Hunter ushered those five into the room.
"Please, sit," I motioned toward the table. "Breakfast is on the way."
"My Prince," Barth dipped his head as he entered on Misten's heels.
"Barth, good morning," I told him.
"Prince Thorn," Adahi, his hood already down, strode through the door. Following him were several others; Kyri followed Adahi. Three young ones-two boys and one girl-followed Kyri, then came Doret, whom Sherra called Pottles.
My knees threatened to give way beneath my weight.
Sherra.
I'll never know whether I stepped, jumped or ran; all I remember is the scent of her as I crushed her in my arms, and the tears as her arms wrapped around my neck in return.
* * *
Sherra
If the meeting hadn't been so important, I'd have gone anywhere Kerok wanted to take me after his greeting. He'd kissed me, over and over, in front of all the others.
I don't think either of us cared.
I now sat to his right as the breakfast meeting commenced.
"These three young ones escaped Merrin's clutches," Kyri indicated the two boys and the girl. "Anari stepped them away. The boys' parents died later-in the attack."
"I am most sorry about your parents," Kerok closed his eyes for a moment while regret washed through him. When he blinked again, he focused on Laren and Kyal. "Will you tell us what you saw and heard at the outpost?" he asked. "We seek justice in the loss of innocent lives, and hope to prevent other deaths, too."
"Kyal and I heard the one you call Merrin say many things," Laren admitted. "He wanted to kill those he kidnapped. He wants to kill you, too," Laren hesitated over those words. "Kyal and I have talked-we're grateful that some escaped. We don't think Merrin wanted any of us to live."
"Don't be afraid-I already know Merrin wants me dead," Kerok held up a hand. "Tell me what else you heard."
"The uh, Council man said he'd separated the villagers into two groups," Kyal spoke, now. "He divided those who believed him from those who didn't. Merrin called the Council man Plicton. I've never heard that name before."
"I know who that is, and he is no longer a Council member," Kerok said, keeping his voice calm so as not to upset the boy. "Go on."
"Merrin said the ones who didn't believe Plicton should be killed when the army arrived. I think he intended to burn them and uh, cut them apart," Laren took up the tale while Kyal nodded.
"Then Plicton wanted to know what would happen if the army attacked both outposts at once. Merrin said he had a-perimeter around the outposts." Kyal stumbled on the word perimeter, as if it were a term he'd never used before.
Barth, Hunter and Armon were nodding at the boy's words-they'd already known about the perimeters Merrin could set, to alert him to encroachers.
"They said they wanted to take someplace-second camp?" Kyal went on. "Merrin said that while the army was attacking the outposts, he and Plicton would get away to take second camp."
"Secondary Camp," Weren's frown was deep. "I'm not surprised he covets it."
I watched as the fist Weren rested on the table curled and uncurled, as if he wanted Merrin's neck in his grip. Garkus' unplanned attack had accomplished one thing, at least-Merrin's initial plans had been diverted. It made me wonder what Levi and Armon were doing to protect Secondary Camp.
"Merrin told Plicton to get Anari, then," Laren said. "When she came in, I knew she wasn't safe with Merrin or Plicton."
"I heard Kyri's message-to go to her," Anari took up the story. "I grabbed Kyal's and Laren's hands and stepped us away."
"Very brave-all three of you," Kerok said. "I have rooms for you, and, if I understand correctly, training will be provided?" He turned toward Pottles, who nodded.
"I want to place a shield around Secondary Camp, if there aren't enough people left behind to protect it," I stated.
"May I suggest another tack?" Adahi held up a hand.
"What's that?" Hunter asked.
"Sherra may be able to get past Merrin's perimeter divination," Kyri said.
"But," Adahi objected.
"What if-he plants a perimeter divination before she gets there?" Pottles hissed. "Sherra may not be able to get past what he can do."
I turned to Kerok-he had no idea what Pottles meant. Kyri glowered, as if the one Pottles mentioned were an affront-even if his name had been left out completely. They were talking about Ruarke-I understood that quickly.
"Who?" Kerok turned back to Pottles.
"A boil on the ass of all living things," Pottles mumbled.
"She speaks of one called Ruarke. He is ah, Chief Cleric for the Sovereign Leader of Ny-nes," Adahi explained. "He is, according to reliable reports, now allied with Merrin at Northeast Outpost."
* * *
Hunter had taken Kyal, Anari and Laren to the kitchen for a honey cake while Kerok waited to learn about a person he hadn't known existed.
"Ruarke. Kyri and I have known about him-for a long time. Occasionally, we see refugees from Ny-nes," Pottles sighed. "They tell us the same tale about Ruarke, a heartless, cruel creature who has set himself up as the head of the religion practiced in Ny-nes, because that puts him in charge of the torture and killing of any who are found in Ny-nes with power. Including small children."
"There are those in Ny-nes born with power?" Kerok disliked that idea greatly.
"Yes," Kyri said simply. "There are no boundaries on power, Prince Thorn. The trouble comes when those in charge of Ny-nes see it as a terrible crime against their religion. They torture and kill anyone rumored to have power, before they have a chance to develop their talents-or live their lives."
"That's sickening," Misten whispered.
"Hmmph. You don't know Ruarke like we do," Pottles snorted. "Take the worst evils you can imagine and multiply them by thousands. You may get close to what Ruarke is and does. Merrin's tricks can't come close to Ruarke's disturbed behavior."
"Why are you so concerned about him-Ruarke?" Barth asked. "Even if he is allied with Merrin, he is only a cleric-by your own description."
"What you don't understand, and what is most dangerous of all, perhaps, is that Ruarke was born with power-and survived," Pottles interjected.
"But how? You say all in Ny-nes are tortured and killed who have power," Weren argued.
"He's quite cunning," Pottles muttered. "He can fool even the best among us. Merrin will only be a stepping stone when Ruarke decides to act, and mark my words, he is coming for the King's City. Adahi has
felt it."
"So. Ruarke is still alive and fooling everyone in Ny-nes, and we have to deal with this now, because?" Kerok asked.
"Ruarke wants to destroy Az-ca, in any way he can," Kyri explained. "Somehow, he'd gotten wind of Merrin's acts of treason, and the fact that he's still running loose. Now that they've found one another, I can't imagine a more terrifying alliance."
"With Ruarke's hands on Thorn's Book, it will be worse than that," Adahi said quietly.
"Thorn's Book?" Weren asked.
"King Thorn," Adahi corrected himself. "The one Prince Thorn is named after. The book he wrote enables Merrin to set those perimeter divinations mentioned earlier. To our benefit, Merrin has limited talent to use the book. Ruarke has no such limitations."
"How do we go about finding Ruarke, then?" Kerok asked.
"If we approach Northeast Outpost, they'll know and desert it-after killing the villagers, no doubt. Afterward, it's anyone's guess where they'll go. Even the best diviner won't see it," Pottles said.
"You don't find Ruarke-for the same reason you don't find Merrin by employing divination. They're unseeables," Kyri explained.
"That's frightening," Barth rumbled.
"More so than you think, Diviner," Kyri said.
"You say Ruarke has a great deal of power-how does he get around the laws preventing it in Ny-nes?" Armon asked.
"He doesn't employ power until it's time to torture," Adahi grimaced. "Then, he claims it is the power of their god working through him which creates the despicable acts. It ah, serves to convince the population of Ny-nes."
"How the hell do we fight that?" Kerok tossed out a hand in frustration. "He seems to have an answer for everything. I thought we were fighting an enemy who only had bombs and mechanical weapons. If Merrin, the lying treasonous bastard, has truly allied himself with this abomination, we could be doomed faster than anyone expected."
* * *
Kerok
"Adahi and I won't be staying," Kyri informed me. Misten and Caral had spirited Sherra away for a reunion of sorts; Weren, Armon and Levi had joined Kage and Hunter for a midday meal, Doret had gone to find the three young ones, and I'd been left with Kyri and Adahi.
I'd been in more comfortable situations in the midst of heavy battle.
"We will return often-I have things to teach," Adahi rumbled.
"I hope you keep me abreast of happenings with Cleric Ruarke," I said. "As much as you can." For whatever reason, I felt as if they'd told the truth about the cleric, but only a partial truth. They knew more about Ruarke than they'd said; I was certain of it.
"Don't wander far down that path, Prince Thorn," Adahi warned. "You won't like what you find there."
"I dislike what I've discovered so far," I snapped. "Tell me how to destroy them before they find a way to kill us all."
"We don't have an answer, just as you don't," Kyri sounded angry. "Not unless you want a swath of innocent bodies strewn across Az-ca, and most of the villages on fire."
"Consider this," Adahi said. "You can take your army and distribute it among the villages, and that leaves the King's City vulnerable. Concentrate the troops in the King's City and the villages will surely die. Tread carefully, Prince Thorn. The ultimate desire of Merrin is to take the King's City. Ruarke's ultimate desire is to see it fall. Use all weapons at your disposal, including your black rose."
"When Ny-nes' army returns, as it surely will, you will be forced to defeat them, too," Kyri said. "I may be able to bring others who are willing to fight beside you, but if that happens, then you must accept them as your own countrymen afterward."
"Allies will be welcome, no matter what," I said.
"I'll remember you said that, Prince Thorn."
* * *
Sherra
"There you are." Kerok found us in the palace gardens. I was teaching Misten and Caral how to make a mirror shield. For the moment, Misten was completely invisible. Kerok walked right through her bubble shield as he approached.
"It really works," Caral breathed as Kerok joined us. Misten released her shield with a laugh.
"You just walked through Misten's mirror shield," I told him. He was completely disinterested in that. Taking my left hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed the black rose on my wrist.
"Sherra, will you come to Secondary Camp?" Misten asked.
"Kerok?" I placed a hand on his shoulder. "May I have dinner there with them tonight?"
"Tomorrow, after breakfast," Kerok mumbled distractedly against my wrist before kissing it again.
"Put up your strongest shields," I told them as Armon and Levi appeared to take them away. "In layers. Don't let anyone you don't know step inside."
"Come with me," Kerok breathed against my ear the moment they stepped away.
"I have to put up shields, first," I told him. His breath against my ear was doing strange things to my body.
"Hurry," he kissed my cheek and then my throat.
I hurried.
* * *
Kerok
"My rose, wake." I nuzzled Sherra's bare shoulder before kissing it. "Breakfast, then work," I mumbled while my body made other demands. Those desires had to be forced back; I'd already taken much of her time, and, as she wasn't used to my loving, I didn't want to make her sore.
Sherra curled into a ball-a clear signal that she wanted to sleep more. I chuckled, kissed her shoulder again and rolled off the bed.
Watching her straighten her body, stretch, yawn and then sit up was worth everything I owned.
"If you hurry with your shower, we can have breakfast with Hunter and Barth," I teased as she turned toward me.
"I'll hurry." Sliding off the bed, she trotted around it, past me and into my private bath before I could stop her.
* * *
Sherra
"Just hand her the entire dish of butter and don't ask questions," Kerok grinned at Hunter.
"It's not that bad, really," I said while accepting the dish of butter from Hunter. Barth, sitting next to Hunter at a small breakfast table in Kerok's sitting room, ducked his head and snickered.
"I'll have new uniforms made for you," Kerok turned to me with a smile. "With the Crown Prince's insignia on them."
"But," I protested.
"You can keep the others and have the bars replaced if you want," he said. "If you can pry them away from your friends-they kept all your things to remember you."
"Oh, no, I forgot to tell Caral and Armon I was coming this morning," I sighed.
"They know-I sent mindspeak."
"I love you," I blinked at him.
Hunter snickered this time.
* * *
Secondary Camp
Armon
Wend shouted with joy and ran to Sherra the moment she appeared in the mess hall. Several others followed, while most of those present stood and cheered.
Sherra had made a name for herself, that was clear, and if there were any who hadn't seen the massive hole left behind after she destroyed the enemy army, they'd been told about it by those who had.
Weren wanted a meeting with her and the rest of the officers the moment we could pull her away, and then we'd take her to assess former washouts to determine what, if anything, they could do for the army.
Merrin and an alliance with the enemy troubled all of us, and while Levi and I hadn't discussed it at length, it felt like a bomb waiting to explode in our midst.
Ruarke-the faceless, powerful enemy, wanted all of Az-ca destroyed, according to Kyri and Adahi. As no diviner from here had ever assessed his power and ability, we may as well be fighting a mythical monster in his stead.
Merrin's strengths and weaknesses were known to us, but that was before he'd gotten his hands on a forbidden book.
Adahi called it Thorn's Book, after the ancient King whose name Thorn was given. Merrin should never have had it, according to the Thorn I knew. Was never meant to have it, either.
Would it be used to kill us? I silently cursed the words on it
s pages and the King who'd written them.
* * *
Sherra
"I wish Crown Prince Thorn could be here, too, but whatever is discussed will be sent to him by messenger," Weren announced after the officers were seated in the mess hall. Wend and Marc sat at a table nearby; I sat with Levi, Armon and Caral, near Weren's table.
Next to Weren sat Linel's former messenger, Dayl. A messenger's satchel lay on the table beside him, and several sheets of paper lay under his hand.
Dayl? I sent mindspeak.
His head came up immediately and he blinked at me. Sherra? he responded.
Have you been trained to protect yourself? I asked him.
There has been little time, he began.
I'll see that you're trained, I said. To protect yourself only. I knew that Dayl wanted no part of battle. Being a messenger suited him. If I had my way, all messengers would be able to protect themselves in a matter of days.
Thank you. Dayl lowered his head and began to write as Weren spoke.
* * *
While the meeting served to inform the officers of what we were now facing after Merrin's alliance with the enemy, we were no closer to a real solution. Several officers had spoken in favor of Garkus' method, of a surprise attack.
Weren had pointed out the major flaws in that plan-those of innocent lives sacrificed and the fact that Merrin, Ruarke and their small horde of followers could step away when the army arrived, because of Merrin's new talent of perimeter divination. There would be no surprise in our surprise attack-not after Garkus' unplanned efforts in that area. No mention was made of Thorn's Book-by design.
I couldn't decide whether that was a good or bad thing.
Caral, Misten and I decided to walk to the training field afterward, while Armon and Levi stepped there to see how everything was going.
"Where is Kyri's City?" Misten asked.
"Far to the north," I said. "I didn't see a map while I was there, so I couldn't point it out to you. It gets rain regularly, is much cooler and there are plants and ferns growing among the trees that we don't see in Az-ca. I saw the sea, too-it's close by."
"That sounds nice," Misten sighed.
"Maybe Kyri will let you visit sometime," I said.
"We missed you," Caral said softly.
Rose and Thorn: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 2 Page 13