Yet, even if she had access to her power, she doubted she would have reacted that way. She gave a small snort, resigning herself to her new situation before lying down on the pile of straw in the cell’s corner.
Though she hadn’t done anything physical in weeks, sleep found her quickly.
* * *
Time had little meaning inside the small, stone room. The only thing that helped Ava keep track of it was the timing of her meals. She estimated two days went by, during which she slept, or at least tried to sleep, as much as she could.
Not long after she received what she guessed was the midday’s meal, footsteps sounded down a long hallway, breaking the routine she had become accustomed to during her short stay. She had barely touched her bread, but cared little that they were coming back so soon to take away the tray.
The lock turned without as much as a knock.
Glad I’m not using the chamber pot.
When the door swung open, she was surprised that both Margo and Eder stood outlined in the dim torchlight. She sat up.
“Gods, what have they done to you?” whispered Eder.
The look of worry touched her. She had barely seen the young scout since before the last battle, catching only the rarest glimpse of him on the road. Even Margo, whom she hadn’t been allowed to speak with since her head injury no longer required bandaging, wore a similar look.
“Do I really look that bad?” she asked, trying to make her voice light. It sounded thick from a lack of use.
“Yes,” said Margo, trying to control an anger that lined his voice. He swung his gaze back to the guards behind him. “She’s lost weight.”
“She gets meals, but we can’t make her eat.”
Margo swung back to her. “Are you sick? Is your head bothering you still? Sometimes a head wound can linger and make one nauseous.”
Ava shrugged. “Just not hungry.”
“You’re depressed,” said Eder.
Ava chuckled as she looked about her cell. “Now, what makes you think I would be depressed?”
The comment made the young scout crack a smile.
One of the guards behind Margo and Eder cleared his throat. “Kamau said you have ten minutes.”
“He also said we’d be given privacy,” Margo snapped.
“And he instructed us not to grow lax.”
“Does she really look like a threat?” asked Eder.
“Doesn’t matter what she looks like,” said the guard. “We have orders. Take the torch and go inside. There’s a sconce on the wall to the left. We’ll close the door and give you a few paces. That will be your privacy.”
Margo muttered some Turine curse under his breath as he did what the guard suggested while Eder followed him in.
After the door closed behind them, the guard said, “Time starts now.”
Footsteps sounded after the statement.
“It’s good to see you both,” said Ava.
Margo said, “Same. I had to beg Kamau to let us talk with you.” He lowered his voice. “Keep your voice low and speak only in Turine.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Danso. His trial began. The council decided to make it public. From what I gather, they had no intention to, but word got out pretty quickly about the accusations against him and your part in what happened to the dead army. The people protested, and there were worries of a riot. To ease the tension, the council had no choice but to hold the trial out in the open so all could attend.
“They put Danso on the stand right away and grilled him about the entire war. Every single decision he made has been under scrutiny.” He shook his head. “It’s disgusting. I’ve no doubt he made some mistakes, but they’re trying to paint him as an unfit leader. They claim that he had dug himself into such a hole he betrayed his religion rather than admit he needed help. His pride led to the eventual treatment of the dead.”
Ava thought back to one of her conversations with him and the way he reacted to her criticisms. “He must have been outraged.”
Eder shook his head. “No. He agreed with all of it.”
“What!” said Ava.
Margo gestured for her to keep her voice down. “I know. That was the first thing that made us wonder if the trial itself was valid.” He paused. “Then Danso testified that he used and manipulated you. He talked about how easy it was to lead you into what he needed you to do because you are weak, naïve, and easily bow under authority. He called you a stray dog begging for the firm hand of a master.”
Ava’s mouth dropped.
Eder added. “We knew then for certain that something more was going on.”
Ava raised her voice, “Of course there is. You have to talk to the council.”
Margo gestured again for quiet. “We tried. But no one would let us. We went to Kamau and asked why he or anyone else wasn’t speaking out against parts of the story they knew were false.”
“And?”
“He feigned ignorance and said there was nothing to speak out against. It wasn’t until I began raising my voice and threatened to tell the crowd what really happened that he pulled me aside and told me the truth.”
“Which is?”
Margo let out a heavy sigh. “Apparently, something happened between Kasala and Sinsca a couple months back. The council was able to smooth things over and all is forgiven, but there are a lot of lingering ill feelings in Batna about those in Turine that settled Kasala. I don’t know all the details, but your brother made some poor decisions it sounds like.”
“Is Tyrus all right?”
Gods, Big Brother. What did you do?
“Seems like it. But between the already heightened tensions surrounding foreigners because of the war, that incident with Kasala, and word of what you did to the dead army, there’s a huge backlash against anyone or anything not from the Southern Kingdoms. Many want the country to close off their borders and cut off all contact with the outside. Kamau said that because of the effects of the artifact and now the war, isolation would destroy the Southern Kingdoms.”
Ava started putting the pieces together. “So, they’re placing all the blame at Danso’s feet to prove that evil can come from within just as it can without.”
“More or less. There’s a lot of good coming out of Kasala from what I hear. The council wants those from Turine to stay and wouldn’t be opposed to encouraging others to help work their northern lands. But if Danso doesn’t take the fall, then that strategy will be next to impossible for the people to get behind.”
“So then Danso accepts all the blame and is made to look like a fool? Ao’s teats, he’s too good of a commander to be treated like that,” Ava whispered.
“We know. That’s also why we’re here,” said Eder before glancing back at the cell door.
Ava asked, “What do you mean?”
Margo continued, “Kamau thinks I understood and agreed with the trial. He said you will likely be released once it’s all over, but he’s worried that you won’t see things as clearly. I told him I could convince you go along with the council’s plan. But really, Eder and I want you to free Danso. There’s a rumor that they may never let him out. He’s too good of a man to be locked up like this.”
Ava snorted. “I understand, but have you noticed where I am right now?”
“We got that covered. Eder?”
Eder opened his mouth and spat out a thin piece of metal he had hidden under his tongue. He wiped off the spit and handed it to her. At first glance, it looked like a simple lock-picking tool. However, she caught tiny symbols etched on it from the flickering torchlight.
“Where did you get this?” Ava asked.
“We pooled our money and bought it in Batna’s black market. Told the dealer I was going to use it to break into a sorcerer’s home. It broke us, but we thought the price was worth it.”
“If it works,” she clicked her tongue.
“It’ll work. I watched the seller prove it to me.”
The guard returned. The key entered the lock. There was a sharp metallic twist and the door swung open. Margo and Eder stood as Ava palmed the tiny pick.
“Time to go.”
“Take heart, Ava. I’m pretty sure this will all be over soon,” said Eder.
Margo and Eder filed out of the cell. The guard told them something smart before grabbing the torch from inside and casting Ava a bitter look. He slammed the door, plunging her back into darkness.
Ava didn’t move at first, considering the new information. Then she reached over, grabbed her food tray, and tore off a bite of stale bread. She still wasn’t hungry, but she needed her strength if she was going to attempt sorcery and free Danso.
* * *
Ava waited until nightfall, in part to build her strength, and in part to talk herself into the plan she had come up with.
After the guards picked up her empty dinner tray and left her to sleep, she pulled free the pick and set to work on her chains. To her shock, the tiny tool worked. She moved slowly to keep quiet, pausing between each lock as she expected the release to trigger some sort of sorcerous alarm.
But no one came to check on her.
Feeling safe from discovery, she casted a small transfer portal. It was a dangerous idea as she had never become a true expert at the spell, but being out of touch with power for so long seemed to heighten her focus and ability to draw what she needed to accomplish the feat.
She searched the prison beneath the council building for more than an hour, mostly by walking as she did not know the area enough to blindly cast portals over and over again. Besides, the last thing she needed was to draw the attention of another sorcerer.
She cast a second transfer spell only after discovering Danso’s cell.
Ava had thought it odd that no guards watched over him until closer inspection of the thick door, revealed a wealth of locks and catches that would take far too long to figure out.
Ava stepped through the portal, shocked to see Danso not only awake, but staring at her while sitting upright with his back and head against the wall.
“Hello, High Mage,” he greeted her casually.
“You don’t seem surprised I’m here.”
“I thought it would only be a matter of time. You’re a resourceful woman.”
She stayed tight-lipped about the help she had received from Margo and Eder.
“I’m here to free you.”
He snorted. “And take me where?”
Admittedly, Ava hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Somewhere other than here.”
“I could not escape and still hope for a life in the Southern Kingdoms.”
“There are other places to live in the world.”
“But the Southern Kingdoms are my home.”
She took a step toward him, thinking on her life. “Home is where you make it. Trust me on that.”
“No!” he snapped. “Try to free me and we will continue the fight we had upon our first meeting.”
She stopped. Unsure of how to continue, she changed subjects. “I know about the lies the council has been feeding the populace. I could disprove them.”
“Why would I want you to do that when I thought up most of them myself.”
“What?”
“This whole charade was my idea.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I got word of what happened between Kasala and Sinsca from the council. So did the rest of my camp. And based on their immediate negative reaction, I anticipated how others in Batna would feel. Especially, after they learned of what happened to the dead army. I think I could have convinced everyone to overlook your offense due to ignorance or lack of understanding if it stood by itself and I accepted a share of the blame. I figured we’d both be shamed, and ridiculed, but ultimately could live some semblance of a life.” He shook his head, “But with your brother’s attack, and the general feeling about foreigners because of the war . . . it was all too much. My people would want blood. Yours first, and likely others. It would likely shun all other nations, refusing trade. I know this. Such an act would be our downfall. We need the help of others. We need to reinvent ourselves if this great nation will continue. I didn’t lose tens of thousands of men in war, to watch this land slowly deteriorate right after.”
“It’s ridiculous for you to shoulder the blame.”
“It has to be me. No one else has enough clout and prestige to give the revelation so much weight that it would offset the growing ill will toward foreigners. Then I thought of how I needed to do that and started putting things into motion.”
“That’s when you spoke to Kamau.”
“It was hard to convince him, but I knew I needed an ally to help seed doubt in others, to make people see things different than how they occurred.”
“So the council doesn’t know this is all a lie then?”
“Not everyone. But the Speaker does. I needed to convince him just as I did Kamau.”
“And they are both perfectly fine with this?”
“No. But they understand its necessity and see no other way.”
“But so much of what you’re saying dismisses all the good you did.”
He sighed. “A good man once told me to ‘not be afraid to sacrifice myself for the good of others.’”
Great. Thanks a lot, Big Brother.
She took a step forward with the intent of freeing him. “This is ridiculous.”
“I said no.”
He didn’t yell this time, but she halted once again.
There was a great pain in his voice when he continued. “This is important to me. I’m the only one who can do this for my people, my nation. The soldiers that died under my command will not have lost their lives in vain.”
“But those same people hate you now.”
“Yes. I imagine most do.” He regarded her. “I imagine many hated you in Turine at some point as well. Did that ever stop you from fighting your war?”
She looked away from his gaze, his words hitting too close to her heart. “Maybe I still fought for them, but I wasn’t willing to rot in prison on their behalf.”
He snorted dryly. “You don’t understand. There will be no prison for me. When the trial is done, there will be only one punishment worthy of my crimes. The same that would have been given to you and possibly some of those now in Kasala had I not made this choice.”
“And you just expect me to do nothing?” Her voice cracked.
“I don’t expect anything. I ask that you allow one death, mine, to save the future of an entire nation for generations to come. Regardless of how much you hate my decision, you must respect it.”
She hung her head, “So few will understand all that you’ve given up.”
“So be it.”
Ava stared into his eyes, hoping to see something there that might reveal a lack of certainty in his conviction, but it wasn’t there.
“Alright then,” she whispered and turned to the door of his cell.
“High Mage Ava.”
She looked over her shoulder.
Jumla Danso lowered his eyes. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 55
Warm sunlight stung Ava’s eyes as she exited the council building. Half a dozen guards and twice as many sorcerers had accompanied her through the winding staircases and hallways until reaching the outside. Another contingent equal to the first joined them as they led her down the outer stairs and through the streets of Batna.
“Am I ever going to be told what this is about?” she asked for the third time.
Her response was once again met with silence.
The streets of Batna were relatively empty due to the heat of midday. However, those who were visible st
ared daggers in Ava’s direction. She was certain that without the guards and sorcerers around her she would have been the target of more than hateful looks. Despite the blame Danso took for her actions, most would still not forgive her.
Eventually, they led her through the gates of the city. Waiting on horseback was Kamau. Beside him stood Margo and Eder with three packs at their feet.
Kamau unrolled a sheet of parchment while clearing his throat. “High Mage, Ava. Due to the testimony of our country’s former commander and corroborated by myself, the Council of Batna has decreed that it will take no further action against you for the war crimes you committed. However, because of your participation in these crimes, the council has also decreed that you shall never be allowed to enter the city of Batna again. If you choose to remain in the Southern Kingdoms, you must reside in Kasala. Should you wish to travel outside of that town for a period longer than two days, you must receive permission from your local government official to do so.” Kamau looked up from the parchment with a stern face. “Do you accept these terms?”
The pieces of garbage couldn’t even read this to me themselves. Not even the Speaker? I lose scores of men, stay months away from family and friends, and know that a good man will lose his life, and I gain exile, guilt, and more bad memories of war.
Every part of Ava wanted to lash out and say no, to scream how stupid this all was. But it would only betray Danso’s sacrifice.
She whispered, “Yes. I accept.”
Kamau nodded and a guard came up to undo her chains. After each lock fell away, the guards and sorcerers around her grew more anxious as though she might renege on her word. But she stood still even as they gathered the chains and retreated through Batna’s gates at Kamau’s command while he remained behind. To remain calm, she took comfort in once more reconnecting to the power around her.
Once the others were out of earshot, Kamau said in a voice that only she could hear. “I’m sorry it came to this.”
“Me too,” was all she could manage.
Kamau clicked his reins and reentered Batna. The gate to the city closed behind him.
She turned to Margo and Eder. “Where are the others?” she asked, meaning the surviving Turine volunteers.
Forever Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Four Page 48