Assassin of the Heart: Book Two: The Temple Islands Series

by Richard Parker

  Zebo gave him a look of incredulity, but stood and with a deep breath of his own began to weave his arms before him in a poor imitation of the motions the Travelers preformed when they opened a bridge. Gwaynn watched him closely, seeing the concentration, feeling the shimmer in the air. Gwaynn concentrated along with the large man, slowing his heart and calming his mind. A weak shimmer appeared in the air directly in front of the Speaker. It strengthened until finally Gwaynn could see a circle of silvery mist hanging in midair. Gwaynn closed his eyes and focused his thoughts sharply but he was very careful not to slow time. Instead he concentrated completely on controlling space. He heard Sath approach and sit down, but did not acknowledge him. He felt his mind expand and encircle the shimmering air before him and when he was ready he opened his eyes. With just a slight shift, he gently touched the Speaker’s bubble with his mind.

  Zebo’s eyes snapped open and he jerked his head around to stare at Gwaynn. Gwaynn immediately withdrew, now knowing that he might well be able to recreate a Speaker’s bubble on his own. It appeared to be a much easier task than slowing time.

  “Is the connection made?” Gwaynn asked though he knew it was solid, that somewhere on the Isle of Light the shimmering Speaker bubble was also hovering in midair.

  Zebo nodded slowly, slightly suspicious, but then he called out with his mind for the High Zarina. Gwaynn heard his call though no one else in camp was aware because Zebo had not spoken aloud. Zebo called, and called again, but there was no answer.

  “What’s the range of the bubble?” Gwaynn asked, suddenly very concerned.

  Zebo stared at the Prince, again with a puzzled expression. Gwaynn should not be able to hear his call, or the fact that there was no answer, but his curiosity was mixed with concern. “The call can be heard all over the Isle of Light,” he answered, then cocked his head. “When were you trained? Why have I heard nothing about it?”

  Gwaynn ignored his question and the questioning look he was getting from Afton Sath.

  “Why is there no answer?” Gwaynn asked.

  Zebo shook his head, and his curiosity about the Prince faded and was replaced with worry. “I don’t know. The connection was made. You felt it yourself.”

  Sath gasped softly, but said nothing as Gwaynn held up a hand to quiet him. “Call the High Zarina. Call her personally,” Gwaynn ordered. Zebo instantly nodded, growing very concerned. He closed his eyes and with his mind searched and called for Zarina Aleecia. After several long minutes he opened his eyes again and shook his head negatively.

  Gwaynn remained quiet, thinking. Perhaps she was just unconscious, but something deep inside him told him otherwise.

  Finally he turned to Zebo, who was on the edge of panic.

  ‘The High Zarina is dead, and the Isle of Light is empty of all Travelers and Speakers. Catastrophe…’ the fat man thought wildly.

  “I want you to call Noble Island,” Gwaynn said softly and without any questions Zebo complied.

  “Zebo! Zebo!” Came the answer clearly through the bubble. “Do not return to Light. We are under attack from the Temple Knights and Executioners,” the feminine voice shouted urgently.

  “Who is this?” Zebo asked, speaking aloud now.

  “Speaker Ringlet,” the voice answered impatiently, before softening. “Stay safe, stay clear of Light.”

  Gwaynn nudged Zebo, who nodded. “Speaker Ringlet, we have need of a Traveler.”

  “A Traveler! Are you mad?” Ringlet answered and Gwaynn raised his eyebrows.

  “The request comes from Prince Gwaynn Massi,” Zebo continued.

  The bubble remained quiet; a swirling mist in the early morning air, then Speaker Ringlet spoke again. “One moment please,” she answered.

  “Speaker Zebo Sorbello,” said another voice, also feminine but with the unmistakable air of authority. “This is High Zarina Monde,” the voice continued and Zebo closed his eyes in grief. “We believe the Zarina Aleecia was killed in the first moments of the attack against us. Are you with the Prince?”

  “Yes M’lady,’ Zebo answered.

  “Prince Gwaynn,” the voice of Monde continued firmly. “We will grant your request. Keep the connection open and within the hour a group will be sent to you, including the Traveler Jess na Gall.”

  “I thank you High Zarina,” Gwaynn answered satisfied.

  “I have one more piece of news for you,” Zarina Monde continued, her voice falling off with obvious sadness. “The High Tar Amon may also be among the dead. Tar Kostek has assumed control of Noble for the time being. He is away at present but may wish to contact you in the future.”

  Gwaynn was shocked speechless for a long moment, and he saw his own surprised mirrored in the eyes of Afton Sath and Zebo.

  “Tha…thank you,” Gwaynn finally managed, though his throat was constricted and his stomach felt as if he’d taken a direct blow from Nev’s heavy katas.

  “I’m sorry,” the disembodied voice continued softly but then strengthened. “Please prepare for Zarina na Gall. Protect her. There are few Travelers remaining.”

  The bubble of silvery mist fell quiet; though Zebo left it open as ordered. The three said nothing, just stared at one another, each lost in their own thoughts, each trying to come to grips with the implications of the awful news.

  V

  No one was surprised that the Deutzani soldiers continued to follow them, but the speed of their advance caused a bit of a scramble as they reached the mouth of the valley. Samantha helped the men guide the rest of the horses onto the steep downward trail, and followed along after with Rue and Lonogan close behind. By the time all the horses were on the move, Rue estimated they were only about twenty minutes ahead of the soldiers. Once on the trail, however, they were able to persuade the horses to a much greater speed and they all descended rapidly.

  The valley was idyllic and much wider than Samantha envisioned. The trail they followed went in and out of trees and across several wide-open meadows. When they crossed the Snake River it was wide, slow and only a couple of feet deep in the center channel. They released the herd after they crossed the river and let the horses go where they may. After that it only took another ten minutes to reach the falls and the far side of the valley.

  “We need to climb now,” Rue said dismounting and pulling the saddle from his horse.

  “But what if they didn’t find the entrance?” Samantha asked, still hesitant to leave Bull. “What if they’re not following us?”

  “We’ll find out from up there,” Lonogan said pointing up the rock face. Samantha glanced up, shielding her eyes from the sun. The top of the falls looked to be at least three hundred feet up, but there were numerous ledges spaced so regularly that the cliff face looked somewhat like a staircase for giants.

  “We need to go now,” Rue coaxed. “If they’re not following us, it will be a simple matter to just climb back down.”

  Samantha could think of no other argument and reluctantly climbed from Bull’s back. She began to unhook his saddle. She allowed Olney, who was a year younger than she but already quite a bit larger, to actually pull the heavy saddle from the horse’s back. He smiled at Samantha, but didn’t say anything. When everyone was ready they encouraged the horses to be off and hid the saddle gear as best they could in some nearby brush. The horses trotted away back in the direction of the herd, and Bull went along with them without even a backward glance.

  They gathered what supplies they would need, but to save weight they emptied all the canteens and would refill them once they were up top. Once their packs were secure they began to climb, nearly everyone at once since there were numerous ways to the top. They made sure to start well away from the waterfall to avoid any damp, slippery rocks. For the most part the way was easy but they came to several points where there was only a single way up to the next level. They would all bunch together for a time to wait as one by one they scaled the more difficult sections.

  The group was nearly three-quarters of the way to the top when
Rue called out a warning. Samantha was climbing just behind Carmen, and Olney was directly behind her. Lonogan and Rue were both climbing a little to their left, going slowly so as not to get too far ahead of the women.

  “Hurry,” Rue coaxed, sounding slightly panicked. Lonogan actually stopped to look back and down into the valley. He didn’t spot anyone for several long seconds so started up after Rue once more. It wasn’t until the first arrow zipped by Samantha’s head that she became aware of the extreme danger they all faced. She had her bow slung to her back and she briefly entertained the notion of stopping on a ledge and returning fire, but Bock shook his head negatively, as if reading her mind.

  “Keep climbing. We’ll be safe enough once we get to the top,” he shouted over the din of the falling water and she wanted to climb faster, but Carmen was apparently unable to increase her speed. There was room and Samantha could have moved around her, but she doggedly maintained her position behind the older woman, not wanting to pass her and leave her on her own. Olney, who was young and strong, also kept his position directly below them both, though Samantha was sure he could scamper up to the top with very little problem. More arrows flew past them but most were aimed at Bock and Rue. Thankfully they all missed their mark.

  Samantha’s back began to itch from the thought of being struck and she had a persistent vision of an arrow striking her lower back and burying itself in her kidneys. Sweat was beginning to run down into her eyes even though the air near the falling water was cool and moist. Rue made it to the top first and was reaching for Carmen, when another volley shot upwards. Two arrows shattered against the rock face to the left of Olney but a third arrow sliced through Samantha’s right sleeve and cut a shallow groove though her arm just above her elbow. It flew past in a flash and buried itself into Carmen’s right calf.

  Both women cried out at nearly the same time. Carmen wavered and would have fallen and probably taken Samantha with her, but Rue reached down and grabbed firmly onto his wife’s wrist. Carmen hung suspended for a long moment, unable to use her right leg for support. Samantha held her breath and waited. She could see Carmen’s face pinched in pain and fear and then another arrow splintered against the rock next to the old woman’s head. Galvanized, she used her left foot to anchor herself until Rue and Bock could pull her the rest of the way to the top. Samantha scurried after her, aware that she’d been hit, aware that she was bleeding, but she ignored her injuries for the moment as a dark rage began to fill her. She was tired of running, tired of fear, but most of all she was tired of the Deutzani invaders. When she reached the top, standing on shaky legs, she pulled her bow from her back and without hesitation began to shoot arrows down at their attackers. She was shaking so badly that her first two shots went wildly awry, but she forced herself to take several deep breaths and then took careful aim.

  On the valley floor below she could see several dozen soldiers and at least a half dozen more who’d already started the climb. At the moment it appeared that only four enemy archers were trying to cover the climbers by shooting arrows at up Sam and the others. Samantha was dimly aware of Lonogan and Olney throwing fist size rocks down at the approaching enemy, though what success they were having was lost on her. She was sighting down her bow at one of the leading climbers. The soldier was a bit off to her left and moving rapidly up the cliff face. She steadied her nerves and slowed her breathing the way her father taught her, then smoothly released the arrow and let it fly. The moment she released it she knew it would find its’ mark. It did, hitting the Deutzani soldier in the face just as he looked upward. The arrow smashed though the left side of his mouth, shattering teeth before nearly passing all the way through his cheek. Samantha watched slightly horrified, as the arrow continued through the unfortunate man’s face. It stopped just as the feathers were beginning to tickle his lips. The force of the blow drove the man’s head back, but he was on a large ledge and did not fall any farther down the rock face. He did however, collapse, writhing, screaming and clutching at his face. Samantha stared down at him feeling suddenly ill, even though moments before she wanted nothing more than to strike out against their enemies.

  “Bravo!” Olney yelled, and Bock echoed his sentiments. They continued to hurl missiles down on the Deutzani, but Samantha’s strike caused the most of the enemy to slow their ascent dramatically and when Bock struck another on the shoulder with a rock, the climbing stopped all together. The Deutzani soldiers already on the rock face took cover and waited until Bock and Olney grew tired of slinging stones down at them and then they cautiously made their way back to the valley floor.

  “Mother!” Olney cried when it was clear the enemy had halted their pursuit, and raced away from the cliff to her side. Samantha looked back, but did not move from her position and continued to keep watch on the enemy below. Bock moved over to join her, and together they gazed down at the Deutzani who were huddled under the cover of a thick grove of trees, clearly reevaluating their situation. It wasn’t long before a large group of them mounted up and started back across the valley toward the entrance. Samantha and Bock followed the departing group until they were lost in the trees and when Samantha looked back down to the valley floor she realized it was quickly getting dark.

  “Stay here and keep an eye on our friends,” Bock ordered and moved back to where the Hawser’s were huddled together. Carmen was pale and sweating profusely. Rue was holding her and occasionally dabbed at the blood seeping around the arrow shaft that was still buried in her calf. Bock knelt and studied the wound carefully. It was bad and he dare not attempt to remove the arrow. He said nothing to the Hawsers, but he instantly realized that the wound put them all in great peril. Clearly they would not be able to outpace the Deutzani and carry Carmen with them. He knew as a soldier they should leave her behind, but such a decision would not be possible for her husband. He remained silent for a long time.

  “Wrap it carefully, build a fire and make her comfortable,” Bock said addressing both Rue and Olney. Then he turned to the older man.

  “I’ll need your eyes if we are to keep the Deutzani from climbing after dark.”

  Rue nodded and without a word began to wrap his wife’s wound with one of his spare shirts, while Olney quickly gathered wood and started a small fire. Carmen winched several times, but cried out only once as Rue worked. When he was finished he looked into Carmen’s eyes. She tried to smile through her fear but failed.

  “Go,” she finally said, and dropped down on her side, careful not to move her wounded leg overly much. Rue hesitated only for a moment then stood and moved back to Bock, signaling his lone son to follow.

  By the time they joined Samantha at the cliff’s edge it was distinctly darker. It would only be a matter of time before the valley floor became completely hidden in the growing deep.

  “We need to spread out,” Bock said. “We’ll not hear them climbing because of the falls.”

  “Maybe they won’t come,” Olney said hopefully. “Maybe they’ll wait until morning.”

  Bock shook his head. “They’ll come…as soon as it’s dark. Thankfully, the half-wits sent half their number off toward the valley entrance hoping to encircle us.”

  Rue gave a shallow smile at the news, wishing all the Deutzani had taken the bait. “They’ll not make it around before this is over,” he said, his voice tight with emotion.

  Samantha looked at Rue and felt his sorrow. She was now having a bit of difficulty discerning their faces though Bock was only a few feet away. She took a moment to glance straight up into the sky and at first no stars were visible, but after a moment of staring she made out first one, then two. “The moon is near full,” she said and Lonogan nodded.

  “It will help, as long as the skies stay clear,” Bock replied then ordered Olney to take up a position close to the river to guard their right. He and Rue would guard the center while Samantha kept an eye on the far left.

  “Use rocks,” Bock said to her, “save your arrows. Don’t waste them in the dark.” />
  Samantha nodded, her legs were shaking again, then she moved off into the direction she was to cover, thinking of Gwaynn and hoping he would come.

  The night quickly grew very dark and Samantha strained her ears against the pounding of the falling water in an attempt to detect any sound of movement below. She could hear nothing, nor could she see Bock, though he was relatively close. She hoped that the darkness might also dissuade the Deutzani from attempting the climb. The pitch black did not last, however, as the bright, nearly full moon rose only fifteen minutes later. The light helped a little, though it would be several hours before it was high enough to truly illuminate the surrounding forest. She used what time she had and the dim light of the moon, to gather as many fist sized rocks to her as possible and soon had three large piles spread out over a fifteen foot line.

  She periodically scanned the rock face below but still could detect no movement, she could however, now make out Bock some twenty yards away, but he was doing little more than staring over the edge, hunting in the dark. An hour later Samantha was starting to believe that the Deutzani had indeed decided to wait until morning when a shout came up. It was followed by a cry of warning from Bock, who was now flinging stones downward at some enemy though Samantha was still unable to see anyone. Her attention shifted back to the rock face below her, but no matter how she strained she could see no sign of the enemy. Bock was throwing rocks at a rapid rate and Samantha was about to move closer to his position to aid him when at last she caught a glint of movement below. She stared at the spot for several moments until she caught the movement again. She could just make it out as a man. She picked up a rock and threw it in the direction of the soldier, but was unable to see where the missile went after a few yards. It obviously didn’t hit its target, because the soldier continued to climb and by the time Samantha gathered in another rock she could see two more soldiers climbing to the left of the first. She threw her next rock, then another still unable to see if they were having any affect when suddenly the moon ducked behind a dark cloud and what little light she had disappeared. She looked up momentarily but the moon and sky were completely hidden from view by a dark band of clouds and then the night grew very still. She tossed another rock trying to aim for the spot where she last saw the climber, knowing it was pointless. She could see nothing.