Isranon sighed. I want to get through to them. To teach them a better way."
"Beating the shite out of him is a good start."
"Maybe."
* * * *
Liuthan lay on his cot with his robe open, revealing the reddened splotches, pustules and running sores that covered most of his chest and stomach. His muscles sagged on his bones like an old mon's. His clothing irritated the lesions. Randilyn flicked her pale blonde hair back, opened a jar, and smeared a healing salve over the lesions.
He shivered as the cool salve touched his skin and eased his discomfort. Thank you."
"That's okay."
The tent flap parted and Isranon walked in. Are you nearly done?"
"No, but I can come back when you're finished."
Isranon nodded and Randilyn left them. He grasped Liuthan's wrist and Read him. He shook his head as he released Liuthan's wrist. I can't do more than I've been doing. You'll start showing signs of the madness soon."
Liuthan grimaced. Then I'm down to weeks."
"You won't see winter."
Liuthan fell silent.
Isranon placed his hands on Liuthan's chest and poured his healing energies into the mon's body. Liuthan felt dizzy with relief as his pain eased, the worst of the lesions closed, but others continued to ooze.
"I feel like I'm rotting away inside and out."
"That's fairly accurate. Isranon removed his hands.
"Did you have to let them beat my son?"
"Stygean broke the rules."
Liuthan winced at Isranon's tone. He didn't break them. It was Jingen."
"Jingen was with his mother. A nibari vouched for him."
"A nibari's mind is frail...."
Isranon turned reflective, wondering about the nibari that had said she saw Jingen go into his mother's tent. Nibari were more susceptible to the psi aspects of sa'necari magic than other races. He still did not know to what extent the boys had mastered the arts of the deathmages before coming into his hands.
"He has never been beaten before, Isranon. We raised Stygean with love."
"I regret having to allow it. But the rules are the rules."
Liuthan closed his eyes. He's always been a good boy. You should have seen how hard he worked with me in the salle. I taught him knives, swords, spears; all the weapons. He always tried to please me."
"He's weapons-trained? A note of interest crept into Isranon's voice. Nevin had trained him in blades as a boy, thinking that his magic would never amount to anything because he was a Dark Brother of the Light.
"Yes. We had to pass as kandoyarin. I was training him into a blademaster like myself."
Isranon rubbed his face, let out a long exhalation. I want to reach him."
"I keep telling him to follow your rules."
"Maybe if I put him to training again?"
"He would appreciate it. I'm certain."
"I'll put him with Nevin as soon as he's healed."
"Thank you. I don't want my boy to die."
"I don't either."
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CHAPTER SEVEN
EXECUTIONS
Isranon regarded Amiri in silence, waiting for her to tell him what she had come to talk to him about. He poured himself a measure of Sanguine Rose to ease his aching body and sipped it.
The Ymraude pulled at her wealth of slender braids, clacking the beads together. This isn't easy, Isranon."
He nodded. I gathered that."
"It's about Iuf."
"And Corbienne?"
Amiri's lips tightened. I promised I wouldn't tell you. However ... I think things are too far gone not to."
"What do you mean?"
"Corbienne hasn't been right since Chyniolus."
"I noticed that. Get to the point."
Amiri looked uneasy, averting her eyes from his, and letting silence settle between them.
Isranon's brow furrowed and he knew what she would say. She's Dancing him?"
Amiri gave a mute nod.
Alarm swept through Isranon and he nearly screamed. I want them brought here now! At once!"
"I'll get Travis and Haig to help me look for them."
Isranon stared at the tent door long after Amiri left, a prayer on his lips that Iuf and Corbienne could be found before it was too late. Bad decisions haunted him, which led him to think again about Merissa Redhand and their son, Darmyk. His son was three years old now, and Isranon had never seen him. He had not even known that he had left Merissa pregnant, until after the boy's birth; when Nevin revealed it in Imralon following a bad episode of Isranon's recurrent illness. She was his childhood playmate among the lycans, the daughter of the Red Wolf chieftain, Claw Redhand. A sharp whiff of melancholy breathed through his heart and doubled his sorrows.
* * * *
Corbienne stroked his chest. I love you, Iuf. You're the only one who makes me warm."
"I know, Corbie. He squeezed her breasts.
She pressed her body over his and licked his neck.
Iuf tensed and stifled a cry of pain as her fangs entered him. Usually Corbienne would have swept him into illusions of pleasure, but she was growing wilder and more desperate to taste him. He writhed in pain beneath her, which only excited her more. She sucked harder and harder, hauling the life out of him faster and faster. Iuf groaned loudly. Darkness gathered around the edges of his fading vision. He felt his heart palpitating madly. Dizziness swept through him.
Corbienne sensed his heart failing, and she knew she should stop. Yet, the taste of his blood called to her like a seiryn's song, and she kept thinking, "Just a little more won't hurt. Just a tiny bit more. Iuf won't mind. He knows he keeps me warm. He knows I love him. He won't mind. Just a little bit more."
Iuf's heart fluttered. His breathing shallowed out, grew stronger, and shallowed out again. Then his heart stopped, and he stared sightlessly at the tent roof.
Corbienne felt confused and disoriented when it became harder to pull more blood out of her lover. All she wanted was just a little bit more. So she continued sucking.
Travis and Haig poked their heads into the tent. Hey, Iuf, what's up? Haig and I thought you might like to have a drink with"
Travis gaze fell upon Corbienne sucking on Iuf's neck, recognized the bluish tinge to Iuf's flesh, and noted his staring eyes. Hey, get off him, you crazy bitch!"
Corbienne jerked her fangs out of Iuf and swiped her tongue over the wound, but the wound neither closed nor bled. She retreated from his body, shaking her head in furious denial. I just wanted a little bit more, Corbienne whimpered.
Travis moved to Iuf's side and felt for a pulse that he already knew he would not find.
Haig stepped between Travis and Corbienne, eyes narrowing, taking in the blood smearing Corbienne's mouth. How is he?"
"He's dead."
Haig's fangs came down and he snarled at Corbienne.
She shrank back from Haig. I didn't mean to do it. He kept me warm. I needed him to keep me warm."
Haig flicked his big hand at Travis without taking his eyes off Corbienne. Get help!"
Travis raced out.
Corbienne turned to flee, and Haig lunged, tackling her. His huge body, as bearish as the cloak he wore, carried her to the ground. He pinned her with his knee in the small of her back, and twisted Corbienne's arms behind her.
"We're going to stake you, Corbienne. That's the law. Take no lives out of appetite or for pleasure."
She jerked and twisted. Let me go. Please, let me go. I didn't mean to kill him. I loved him."
"You loved him to death. You Passion-Danced him. We all noticed it."
"Then you should have stopped me."
"We couldn't stop you if you didn't want to be stopped. Amiri warned you. Isranon warned you."
"Mercy, Haig. Please."
The other three Lemyari vampires burst into the tent: Jun, Garin, and Keahi.
Garin glanced at Iuf's rapidly cooling corpse. He was a good mon. He didn't
deserve to die this way."
Jun grabbed Corbienne's right arm, his grip tight enough to make her flinch. Haig rolled off her, and grasped her left arm. Between them they brought her to her feet. Amiri has the Ymraudes raising a pole and bundling faggots to burn her with."
Corbienne struggled, but could not get free of the two much larger males. Jun and Haig propelled her roughly from the tent. Garin followed them with Iuf's body in his arms.
* * * *
To take his mind off the possibilities while he waited for Amiri to return, Isranon poured over Josiah's journals again, working to memorize as much of the knowledge as he could. Sometimes it seemed like he would never absorb it all. He kept trying to compress Josiah's two hundred years of learning into days and weeks of reading and study. If they were going to stop the hellgod Gylorean Galee, he needed to know everything he possibly could to the best of his ability.
Amiri burst into the tent. Corbienne has killed Iuf."
Isranon paled, his lips parting in distress, his brow furrowed. I warned them."
"We all warned her, Isranon. Amiri fiddled with her braids, clacking the beads woven into her nappy hair together. What are we going to do?"
He closed the journal. Burn her."
"Good. I already have a pole going up to hold her and wood being gathered for a fire."
Isranon nodded, fighting a tightening in his chest. She was my friend."
"It doesn't excuse what she did."
"I know. He pushed out of his chair, grasped Warrior, and walked to the tent flap leaning on the staff.
Amiri followed him out.
Isranon glanced around. Where is it?"
"I'll show you. Amiri led Isranon between several wagons to a place near the center of camp that was clear of trees. Zulaika, the captain of the Ymraudes, and several of her fellows had raked all the debris and grass from a large circle, dug a firebreak around it, and had the pole erected. Chains and manacles had been piled beside the pole. The light of the setting sun glinted on the metal pile, turning the blue-violet of the kendarylthe hardest, sharpest metal of all and the one that held the greatest magic chargesa bright puce.
"You've done this before. Isranon's words framed a statement, not a question.
Amiri nodded. We've always killed rogue vampires. It's what the Tinkerer created us to do."
Isranon turned to her. How can you be so prepared ... when in the past you've"
"Let people die for the sake of my scientific studies? You're never going to forgive me for that, are you?"
"I didn't say that. Without you I would never have been able to save Nevin."
"Then let the old wounds heal. Knowledge always come at a price."
Isranon's voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. I know."
"And when are you going to drink that bottle of Josiah's blood I gave you? He traded it to me freely for knowledge."
"Soon."
* * * *
Haig and Jun dragged Corbienne through the camp nude. All around them people made obscene comments as they passed. Garin walked behind Haig with Iuf's corpse in his arms.
In the center of camp a pole had been raised, the area around it cleared, and myn were piling faggots of wood at the base.
"Please. I didn't mean to do it. Corbienne whimpered.
Isranon stood beside the pyre, his eyes as cold as the Iron Glacier. Chain her."
"Please, have mercy!"
Lean, muscular Zulaika wrapped the chains around Corbienne's waist, binding her to the pole while Amiri held her in place. They manacled her wrists and ankles. She struggled and wept as they secured her against the wood.
Stygean leaned against Randilyn. They had summoned him to see this, despite the fact that he could barely stand. She's a vampire. It's her nature. He has no right ... no right."
"She broke the rules. Randilyn hugged Stygean, careful of his wounds.
"It's not right."
Isranon gestured at Amiri. Kill her."
Corbienne shrieked.
Amiri climbed onto the woodpile and faced Corbienne. We all warned you. She pulled her blade. Corbienne began to thrash and yank at her chains, trying to pull free and avoid the blade. Amiri stabbed her in the chest, but missed Corbienne's heart because of the Lemyari's twisting.
"No, Amiri. Please."
Amiri jammed her blade into Corbienne's stomach and nailed her to the pole. The runes and enchantments on the blade burned and smoked in Corbienne's undead flesh. Corbienne shrieked in anguish. Amiri pulled a second blade from her belt, plunged it through Corbienne's chest, and fastened that part of her to the pole also.
Isranon flinched away from the sight of Corbienne transfixed against the wood and lowered his head, unable to watch the final blow. Father, forgive me. She must die."
Amiri gripped Corbienne's throat, imprisoning her head to prevent further movement, pulled her third blade, and pressed it over Corbienne's heart. You are convicted of murder in the Dance of Passion. The sentence is death. I herewith carry it out."
The Ymraude vampire shoved her third knife into Corbienne's heart. Corbienne stiffened, jerked, and vomited blood. Amiri gave the blade a ripping twist and tore Corbienne's heart in half. Corbienne's eyes bulged for an instant. She sagged in her bonds. Amiri released her. Corbienne's head fell forward onto her chest.
Amiri Read Corbienne and nodded. She's dead."
Garin placed Iuf's corpse at Corbienne's feet and withdrew.
Isranon lifted his head and regarded the two corpses with sorrow. Everyone move back."
They did so and Isranon summoned fire. The wood flared up, burning steadily. Then Isranon walked away, not wanting to watch further.
Isranon entered his tent and sat down at his table, shaking. He opened a bottle of whiskey, something he rarely drank, and poured himself a glass. His trembling hand caused the whiskey to slosh over the side. He felt sick to the bottom of his soul at having ordered Corbienne's execution. Isranon had known that sooner or later he would be forced to order an execution, but he had never expected that the first one would take the life of a friend.
"Isranon? Nevin came in. I know that was hard."
He refused to look at Nevin, staring at a distant spot with his eyes unfocused, haunted. I've punished two people in two days, one of them with death. He knocked back the whiskey and poured a second one. Corbienne was my friend."
"The laws are the laws, Isranon. There can be no exceptions. The stern tone of a lawgiver entered Nevin's voice, forbidding Isranon his regrets.
The smell of burning flesh permeated the tent as the wind shifted and Isranon shuddered, remembering the sight of his father being burned alive by sa'necari. He gulped down the second whiskey and poured a third. The liquor eased his shaking, but loosened his emotions. I never wanted to be a lawgiver or a leader of myn. I only wanted to live in peace."
"We all crave peace, Isranon. Even the sparrows. But one mon's peace is bought by another mon's sorrow in this world."
"It isn't fair. Isranon poured the third down his throat, swallowed, and wiped his mouth off on his sleeve. My life is turning into an endless nightmare of decisions I don't want to make."
"Life isn't fair. Myn want peace, but to have that peace, they must have a shield wall of people strong enough to guarantee that peace ... to stand between them and the dangers."
Isranon poured a fourth. By then he had started to feel the liquor burning through his body, making him light-headed and distanced from everything around him like a wall of cotton. His emotions emerged more strongly and escaped his control completely. Tears ran down his face. He drank the fourth glass of whiskey more slowly. I liked Iuf and Corbienne. I would never have survived this long without her. I He swallowed, trying unsuccessfully to master himself. I remember that day on the road ... when I was so sick I could barely stand ... when our camp and Nans refugees were attacked. Corbienne was right in the middle of it ... saving children. I keep wondering. Isranon paused, struggling with his tangled emotions.
"What
? Nevin reached across the table and squeezed Isranon's arm. I'm listening."
"Back at Chyniolus, when I went in to fight the imps ... after you were wounded. I stumbled on Corbienne. She had four of them trapped, using a table and some cabinet doors to make a cage. She was dragging them out one at a time and draining them. I stopped her. I didn't understand then what a sustained battle brings out in hemovores ... the bloodlust ... the battle-rage. I condemned her roundly. You should have seen her face ... how she flinched from my words."
"Isranon, you did not cause her to kill Iuf."
"You can't know that ... not for certain. She was never the same after that. Something broke in her. Isranon finished the fourth and poured a fifth glass.
"Isranon, you're going to make yourself sick."
"I won't feel any sicker than I do now. He drank the fifth glass. And frankly, I don't give a damn. I drained four imps myself. I used magic to force them into a corner. One by one, I sank my fangs into them and I savored the taste of death in my mouth. Isranon shuddered and a series of sobs broke free of his constricting throat. I was three-fourths of the way through the town. I caught them trying to eat a child. A living child. So I ate them instead. Oh gods, forgive me. I was absorbing all the rage and hatred surrounding me, making it my own. And I was so hell-forsaken hungry. I could not stop myself."
Nevin rose and went to Isranon's side. I think you've had enough. He slid his arm beneath Isranon's arms and around his chest, lifting him up. Isranon grabbed the bottle and held on grimly as Nevin moved him to the bed.
Isranon staggered in Nevin's grasp and fell onto the big mattress. He put the bottle to his lips and swigged it again. And what if I must kill Stygean also? I don't want to. I love him, like a little brother. He's so much like I was at that age. I know what he's going through. I don't want to kill him."
Nevin undressed Isranon, which took some effort and strategizing since the mon refused to release the bottle. Then Nevin got Isranon tucked into bed. I'm going to find Anksha. You stay right here."
Isranon hiccupped and began weeping brokenly again.
Nevin patted his shoulder and left.
* * * *
Walking through the camp toward the blood-slaves tents, where Nevin knew he would find Anksha, he could not entirely smother his own selfish thoughts. Handling Isranon's body like that had aroused him. His loins throbbed with need. As drunk and badly off as Isranon was right then, it would have been extremely easy to have seduced him.
Janrae Frank Dark - [Dark Brothers of the Light 08] - Blood Hope Page 9