That only deepened Kerri’s frown. She glanced all about, as though she expected to find Wojin’s agents lurking nearby. “I am less optimistic. In all the time I have spent in Jun’s household, I have learned one thing about senators: they all seek to increase their own power, no matter how much they have already. It is that exact attitude that led Wojin to rebel against his rightful king. I am leery of those who offer help for no reason.”
“Yet Duris may have a very good reason,” said Annis suddenly. Kerri and Loren both jumped and turned to the girl. Annis arched an eyebrow. “Yes, I heard you. By all accounts, and according to everything I have learned growing up, King Jun’s rule has caused much coin to flow into the purses of his senators. Nowhere was that more true than in the kingdom’s southeastern reaches, which have often borne the brunt of Jun’s wars, but also benefited the most from his pillaging. With uncertainty in Danfon, and indeed across all of Dorsea’s northern reaches, the south is now exposed, and it faces the wrath of neighbors who have no love for the kingdom. Furthermore, those kingdoms will now have the High King’s blessing to pursue war, since Dorsea has joined the rebellion. Wojin would care little for any of this—he only wishes to strengthen his grip on the throne. Duris’ homeland is threatened. Jun offers an end to that threat.”
Kerri looked at Annis, studying her for a long moment as though appraising her. “That is a somewhat … cynical way of looking at things.”
Annis shrugged. “Yet it is how our enemies view the situation,” she said. “We cannot ignore that fact and expect to win in this little game.”
Loren frowned. “How close are we, Kerri?”
“Not far now.”
Indeed, they came to the warehouse soon after. The street was deserted, just as Yushan had thought it would be. Together the group filed around to the back of the building. There was a large iron lock on the door, but it broke after a few sharp blows from the butt of Uzo’s spear. Loren went inside and inspected the place. It was nearly empty, with only a few crates scattered around. She returned to the others.
“It will do nicely,” she said. “Kerri, go and fetch our friend.”
Kerri nodded and left. Annis went with Gem to hide in a nearby alley, while Shiun and Uzo took up position near the warehouse, where they would watch from hiding places. Chet entered the warehouse with Loren.
While they waited, Loren found a small box and sat upon it, resting her back against a much larger crate. She indicated the other half of the box and raised an eyebrow at Chet. “You might as well sit,” she said. “I think we have a little while to wait.”
“I would rather stand,” he said quietly. He began to pace back and forth, his steps quick. “I feel restless.”
Loren eyed him carefully. “No one could blame you. Our situation is hardly free from peril.”
He paused and smiled at her. “Yet you seem to be facing it easily enough.”
Loren waved a hand expansively. “Long exposure has let me grow used to it.”
“You said much the same thing before Yewamba.” Chet’s voice had gone quiet, and he stared at his boots. “I was terrified, then, too, but it is different now. I am not just afraid, I am … weary. And it is a weariness that does not leave me, no matter how long I sleep.”
His words struck Loren’s heart. She had noticed it, of course—the long hours he spent in bed, the ever-growing bags beneath his eyes. She could see it in the slow way he blinked, the way he jumped at sudden sounds. The way he recoiled from her touch.
“Chet,” she said softly. “We have all seen much darkness. You more than most. I do not know how to make it any easier. But I do know that you need not feel guilty about it.”
He looked up at her, his eyes glistening. But he smiled through it and shook his head with a sudden sniff. “Thank you. But even though you say that, I cannot rid myself of such a feeling.”
She opened her mouth to answer, but a sudden knock came at the warehouse’s back door. Loren shot to her feet and glanced at Chet. “You should hide yourself.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Let us get it over with. If they mean us harm, it will do me no good to hide in the shadows. They will find me regardless.”
Loren nodded. Then she turned to the back door. “Come.”
The door opened, and Loren’s dreamsight struck her like a hammer blow.
Through the door stepped a woman she had seen before. Features sharp and severe, thin eyebrows and regal lips. Loren had seen her in the sewers below Danfon, and she had been a prisoner of Damaris and Gregor. Damaris had cut her throat.
But Loren had seen something like that before. Damaris had cut Chet’s throat, too, in her dreams.
Was this woman—she must be Duris—was she a weremage? As Auntie had been? No, as Niya had been. It was Niya all along, not Auntie. No. Niya had been Auntie. Was Damaris a weremage as well? Who would cut Duris’ throat, if not she?
“Loren!”
She was on her knees. Her shoulders heaved, and her breath came in ragged gasps. At the door of the warehouse, Duris stood in shock, looking down at Loren. Kerri dashed forwards from beside the noblewoman. She knelt at Loren’s side and took her shoulder, putting a hand to her forehead.
“What is it?” she said. “Tell me what is happening.”
Loren glanced up. Chet stood two paces away, hands raised as if he wished to go to her. But he held back, his fear keeping him from touching her.
“I …” said Loren. The words ended in a gasp. But then she forced her breathing to calm, and she got to her feet with Kerri’s help. “I am fine. A … a spell. Nothing more.”
“A spell of what?” said Kerri. Her voice was uncharacteristically sharp, and her eyes were hard as steel. “I cannot help you if you do not tell me what is wrong.”
“I said I am fine,” said Loren. She pushed Kerri away—but gently. Then she turned to Duris and forced a smile. “My apologies, Lady Fei. The road here has been long, and the city has not lacked in excitement since my arrival.”
Duris studied her for a moment, one eyebrow raised. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I have heard of your … performance in the city square. I cannot say that that was a wise course of action, but it has certainly had some effect on the people.”
Loren was still light-headed, and her hands felt clammy. But she forced her smile to widen as she bowed. “I have never had much trouble attracting attention. Indeed, sometimes I attract more than I would wish.”
Duris sighed. “I find that easy to believe.” She stepped into the warehouse and closed the door softly behind her. As she came forwards, she glanced around. “Are there any guards nearby I should be worried about?”
“Why should you worry about them?” said Loren. “I thought you were here to offer your aid to King Jun.”
“I am,” said Duris. “And my aid will be hard to lend if someone shoots me with an arrow because I made some sudden movement towards you.”
Loren cocked her head. “Then mayhap you should not make any sudden movements.”
Duris gave an exasperated sigh. “I … I am loyal to King Jun, but I am not one for intrigue. I beg you not to bandy words, but to speak plainly. Is my aid welcome or not? I am nervous enough just being here.”
That took Loren aback. She spread her hands disarmingly. “Let us speak plainly, then. I have guards nearby, yes, but you will not see them. They will not act to harm you unless they have a very good reason. They can tell when I am in danger, and they know that you are no great danger to me on your own.”
But she remembered the words that Duris had spoken in her dream: Never again will Jun sit the Dorsean throne.
A long breath came rushing from Duris’ mouth. “Very well. I am relieved to hear it, and I suggest we do our business quickly so that I may leave. You are, I presume, the Nightblade of the High King?”
“I am.”
Duris took an eager step forwards. “And you swear your words are true? You have seen Jun? He is alive?”
“He is,” said Loren.
“And he is eager to learn how you may be of service.”
Duris sagged. It looked as though relief had made her limbs suddenly weak. “Thank the sky. I understand, of course, that you cannot tell me where he is. I am no friend of Wojin’s, but you have no way of knowing that. He must remain secret to remain safe.”
“As you say,” said Loren. “But as you and I have both said by now: let us get to the point. Why did you ask for this meeting, Lady Fei?”
Before she could answer, there came a knock at the warehouse door. Duris jumped and turned in a panic. But Loren held up a hand to calm her.
“Do not worry. That will be one of my agents. Kerri?”
Kerri hastened to the door and opened it. Gem poked his head inside and caught Loren’s eye. He nodded.
“Excellent,” said Loren. “Show her in.”
Gem opened the door wider, and Annis stepped inside. Duris gave a start at that. Annis ignored her, striding across the warehouse to stand beside Loren. Gem followed close on her heels. Duris stared at the lot of them, her head tilted in confusion.
“Who is this?”
Annis bowed low. “I am Annis, of the family Yerrin,” she said. “My mother is Damaris. You may know her as the merchant who has taken residence in the palace and pledged her service to Wojin.”
Duris’ skin very nearly went as pale as Loren’s. “I … but you … I swear that I—”
Loren raised a hand to silence her. “Be calm. She does not serve her mother. I am an agent of the High King, remember? Annis is the same. We came to this city to capture her mother, not to help her.”
But Duris hardly seemed reassured. She put a hand to her forehead and stumbled. Loren leaped forwards to take her arm and helped her to a sitting position on the same box where she herself had rested a moment before. Duris fanned herself with a hand.
“I … I apologize,” she said. “I … the shock. I fear I am ill-suited for this sort of thing. And Damaris is …”
She trailed off, looking uncertainly up at Loren. Annis took a step forwards.
“Damaris is what?” said Annis.
“She has her claws in Wojin,” said Duris. “He rules in name only. I and the other few senators here in the capital can see it, but we can do nothing. She disregards us entirely. I had thought—hoped—that Wojin might have some respect for the senate. He was one of us before he took the throne. But he ignores us at Damaris’ urging. And she is ever wary of betrayal.”
“She does not like being double-crossed,” said Annis, raising her brow. “I can tell you that much.”
Duris studied her. “I believe it. If … if she were to learn that I am here …” She covered her eyes with a hand. “Forgive me. As I said, I think I am ill-suited to this sort of thing.”
“I was about to say the same thing,” said Gem brightly. “What on earth prompted you to pursue this meeting, anyway, if you are so afraid of her?”
“Gem.” Loren shoot him a look, and the boy subsided. But his words made Duris look up at them, and a fire burned in her gaze.
“She is a foreigner,” said Duris, all weakness gone from her voice. “Dorsea is a proud kingdom. We do not serve at the will of outsiders.”
Loren crouched before Duris, resting her arms across her knees. Her new clothes accommodated the motion easily. She hated to admit it, but she was growing quite fond of how smooth they felt on her skin.
“We have had enough shock and excitement for one day—or for many days, I think. Let us get on with this quickly, Lady Fei. What do you have to offer?”
“I …” Duris swallowed hard. “Well, I and many of the other senators like me, that is—we wish to help Jun retake his throne.”
“His Grace hoped that that might be the case,” said Annis. “Yet he was also somewhat reserved in his excitement. By his account, the two of you have never been especially close. In fact, you are just as closely related to Wojin.”
Duris’ breathing had returned to normal. Now she gave Loren a careful look. “From what I have heard about your speech in the square, you are a woman of Selvan. Is that right?”
Loren nodded slowly. “It is. Why?”
“You know, then, how the other kingdoms perceive Dorsea. Many of them see us as warmongers—and they are not wrong. Jun enjoys battle, and many in the senate are of the same mind. Yet that is primarily because of Wojin himself.”
That gave them pause. Loren looked at Annis in surprise, but the girl only shrugged. “I had heard nothing of that.”
Duris waved a hand. “Oh, Jun would be reluctant to admit it. Every king wishes to be seen as a strong leader, one who chooses their own path. And particularly here in Dorsea, our king wishes to be seen as the ultimate authority when it comes to war. Yet Wojin is far more warlike than Jun has ever been, and he coaxes the other senators to put pressure on Jun. When Jun commanded us to war—us in the southern states, I mean—he would never overextend his own forces. And he would never force the issue beyond wisdom, lest other kingdoms strike back. Even so, his wars cost many lives. That is why I came here in the first place—to urge him to pursue peace after the war on Dulmun.”
“It is as I suspected,” said Annis. “Now that Wojin is on the throne, you fear that things will be worse, not better.”
Duris nodded. “It is not only a fear. I am certain of it. Wojin is concerned with northern politics now, of course. But after he has gathered his power, he will order the south to war again. But not just border skirmishes—a true war, a war of conquest against the other kingdoms. It is a war we have no hope of winning.”
Loren wondered if that was true. Damaris served the Necromancer, and Dorsea now did the same. That dark wizard had clearly been plotting this rebellion for a long time, and their Shades were part of it. She doubted they would have started the war with no hope of victory. Now Loren wondered what other schemes were in place, what next would befall the nine kingdoms.
But she could say nothing of this to Duris, of course. She needed to secure the woman’s support, not make her think that Wojin would soon have even more allies on his side. “King Jun thought much the same thing,” she said. “But that leaves us with the same question, which you have not answered with any great exactitude. What, exactly, do you propose to do to help your rightful king?”
“We have very little in the way of exact plans yet,” said Duris. “Indeed, until the day before yesterday, we did not know that Jun was still alive. But I—and those other nobles who feel the same as I do—what we do know, is that our plans must begin with the army. Wojin controls the capital’s forces, but only a small portion of the soldiers are truly loyal to him. Another small portion will be loyal to Jun, once he reveals himself. They must hide their hearts now, but they wait for the right moment to reveal themselves. My daughter is one such.”
Loren drew back, surprised. “Your daughter?”
Duris lifted her chin, fierce pride shining in her eyes. “Yes. She is Morana, of the family Fei. She is a captain within the palace. Right now she serves Wojin, for she believes that is her duty. But if it was confirmed that Wojin is a liar and a murderer, and that King Jun is alive …”
But Annis frowned. “I am sure she is an honorable woman,” she said carefully. “Yet I think Jun and Wojin must command an equal number of soldiers who are loyal to them. If anything, Wojin likely has the advantage, for his warriors must have killed many of Jun’s when he took the throne.”
“Yes,” said Duris. “But both of their factions together are only a small part of the army. The rest of the soldiers serve the same master they have always served, the same master most soldiers serve—simple coin. Even if Jun were to reveal himself now, most of the army will be confused at best. They may even be swayed to Wojin’s side in the end, since he is in command of the treasury.”
“Then we seem to face an obstacle,” said Loren. “What plans have you devised to overcome it?”
Duris shook her head. “None. But if you can solve the problem of Wojin’s coin, I will continue to raise
support among the other senators. They will be ready to act in Jun’s favor when he reveals himself, and together we can cast Wojin from the throne.”
Loren glanced at Annis, and the girl nodded. “Very well,” said Loren. “I will return to His Grace with this news.”
Duris stood. “Thank you, Nightblade. Forgive me for my moment of fright. I am glad to have met you, and I wish us both well.”
“As do I,” said Loren. She made no mention of her own moment of weakness. Hopefully Duris would forget all about it. She extended a hand, and Duris clasped her wrist. Then the noblewoman let herself out through the warehouse’s rear door.
Loren turned to the rest of them. Annis gave a little smile and shrugged. “An army to persuade, and a treasury to pilfer. What could be simpler?”
“A great many things, I think,” said Gem. “But who wants simple deeds? That is not what builds a legend like that of the Nightblade.”
“Oh, be silent, Gem,” said Loren, and she led them all from the warehouse.
THEY RETURNED TO JUN AND made their report. The king seemed heartened by the news, and he nodded thoughtfully when he heard what Duris had proposed. But Loren could not help a strong feeling of doubt. She could not fully rid herself of the memory of her dream, nor what Duris had said in it.
Never again will Jun sit the Dorsean throne.
Did Duris mean to betray them? Was she serving Damaris in truth? But no, in her dream, Damaris had killed the senator. Yet those who died in Loren’s dreams did not always do so in life.
Jun seemed to sense her mood. “You seem troubled,” he said. “More troubled than I would expect, for I think this meeting went very well indeed. What is it?”
“I …” Loren considered her words carefully. What could she tell him, in truth? “I am not entirely certain we can trust her.”
Jun glanced between Jo and Senlin, but they only looked bemused. “I do not understand,” said Jun.
“It seems suspect,” said Loren. “Mayhap her offer is too good to be true. Call it a hunch if you like, but something feels wrong.”
Jun’s frown deepened. “Did she do something suspicious? Could you hear some hidden meaning in her words?”
Yerrin: A Book of Underrealm (The Nightblade Epic 6) Page 18