by Ed Gentry
Her companion affirmed her thought. "I should have known before I did," Taennen said. "Who makes an honest living putting charms and dweomers on jewelry and decorations?"
She still could think of nothing else to say about the topic. Taennen had lost one father and gained a new one in the same day. The idea of making such a choice at a young age was beyond her. Knowing that Jhoqo had taken the boy in should have made her feel more warmly toward the man, but Adeenya still found the whole situation unsettling.
She decided to change the subject. "So where do we start on Guk? Where does the beast begin?"
"If Jhoqo is right about the former wizard of this place, then we have nothing to do, no leads to follow."
"You might have guessed this about me, Taennen, but I don't like to sit idle," she said. She wasn't going to tell him about the pendant, she decided. She couldn't trust him with that part of the puzzle. She hated the feeling, but Adeenya felt little reason to trust anyone at that moment.
Taennen grinned and said, "I figured as much."
"So even if Guk is a dead end, even if he's just trying to con his way to freedom, it's still a lead worth following simply because it's there. If Jhoqo's right, then it won't lead us to this supposed mystery person of Guk's, but we might find some other information of use. We both know that the formian knows more than he's saying," she said.
Taennen considered for a moment before saying, "I think we can arrange to interview him more carefully on the matter. I can talk to Jhoqo."
"That won't get us anywhere," she said. "You know that. You've seen how hard Guk is. He won't crack."
Taennen nodded.
"I have an idea," she said. "But I don't think you're going to like it." Before he could reply, horns sounded, and Adeenya noticed a commotion at the gate. They both ran toward the front of the citadel, pushing through the crowd of soldiers as they went. As expansive as the place was, Adeenya fought against the feeling of being hemmed in as she waded through the crowd. She lost sight of Taennen for a moment, but found herself standing behind him an instant later, as he stood stopped in his tracks. She moved next to him as he shouted for the onlookers to stand back.
On the ground before them lay the bodies of four soldiers at the feet of another five. Three of the dead were Durpari, the other Maquar, while two Maquar and three Durpari still stood. All bore scratches and were smeared with dirt. Adeenya shouted for a healer to be fetched.
Taennen stepped forward to face one of the Maquar who did not bear a serious wound. From the sweat and mud on his brow, he had clearly been in battle. The two men stood silently there another moment, Taennen's eyes locked onto the man before him, while the wounded man stared at his fallen comrades on the ground.
"Report," Taennen said, his voice a growl.
The soldier shook his head and lifted his eyes to Taennen, giving his superior officer a look that Adeenya might expect to see on a dead man's face when asked how things fared.
"We were attacked, sir," the man said.
"By whom? Where were you?" Taennen asked.
"On patrol, sir. The men who attacked the fortress before… it was them."
"You were outside the citadel walls? By the gods, man!" Taennen roared. "What in the hells were you doing out there with such a small force?"
"On the urir's orders, sir," the man said firmly.
Taennen seemed to shrink before Adeenya's eyes. The color drained from his face, leaving a pale palette begging to be filled in again.
Adeenya fought the urge to pull her remaining soldiers out and march straight back to Durpar. The Maquar urir had overreached yet again. Jhoqo had ordered men outside the walls, and now more of them were dead. That did not surprise her. She hadn't been told about it. That did not surprise her, either. It angered her, but in no way did it surprise her.
Taennen hadn't known about the patrols, though, and that surprised her. She expected a certain level of secrecy on Jhoqo's part. She was an outsider, after all. But Taennen was like the commander's son, not to mention his second in command. He should have known about the patrol.
The durir of the Maquar stepped away from his soldier as healers pushed through the crowd to tend the wounds of the injured warriors. Taennen took several steps backwards, the throng parting for him as he went. His eyes remained locked on the bodies of the men on the ground for several long moments before he looked up and found Adeenya's face. Taennen turned from the gathering. She darted after him and found him on the far side of the crowd. She caught up to him easily and fell into step beside him.
"He should have told you," she said. Taennen shook his head. "No." "You're his second."
Taennen stopped and looked straight at her. "He was right to leave me out of it. I've been a joke of an officer on this mission, and I have lost the right to be in on those decisions."
"That's not-" she started.
"Stop. Please," he said, holding up his hand. "I don't deserve his respect, but I will. From now on, I remember my place."
Adeenya shook her head. "So you'll just do whatever he says? Blind to what it might mean? Sending those men out there was foolish and he should have known better."
"I led my men into that massacre, I failed to stop the attackers, and now I'm following up on the words of our enemy who is trying to deceive me?" Taennen said. "Trust that formian? I must be mad. Jhoqo's right to leave me out of this until I get my head straight. I need to regain my focus."
Before Adeenya could speak, Taennen started off again, his gait determined. She had no idea what to say and even less idea of how to say it. She let him leave. If he wanted to wallow in self-pity she would not stop him.
Adeenya turned toward her quarters. She stopped when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Loraica standing nearby, looking out of place. Adeenya did not doubt that the Maquar terir had been trying to eavesdrop on the conversation between her and Taennen. She considered reprimanding Loraica, but the plan she had in mind could not be accomplished alone. She needed help. She could not approach Jhoqo, and Taennen had chosen to remove himself from participation. Adeenya smiled at Loraica. She would do.
But first, there was a more pressing issue to deal with. Adeenya made her way through the courtyard to Jhoqo's command building. She took long, determined steps and kept her focus on the approaching door. The guard there didn't even attempt to stop her, instead opening the door for her. Adeenya stepped into the dim room and looked for the Maquar urir.
Jhoqo sat in a chair on the right side of the room, several scrolls lying around him in a mess. He looked up when she entered and waved her in. If he was surprised or upset at her arrival, he did not show it.
"Yes, Orir? May I help you?" Jhoqo said.
"Sir, you are in command here," Adeenya said.
"I'm glad we agree," Jhoqo said, rising to his feet.
"But that doesn't excuse your decision not to inform me that you were sending my people out on a scouting expedition," she said. She held herself still and poised.
"I had hoped that by sending out the party quickly and without much fuss, perhaps they could have slipped out unnoticed and caught our enemies unawares in the woods," Jhoqo said.
"I'm not questioning your tactics, sir," Adeenya said. "Then what, Orir?" he said.
"You did not consult me or even tell me what you were doing. My people are dead and I never even knew where they were," she said.
Jhoqo's shoulders sagged. "They are back then? It did not go well?" he said.
"I'm sure they'll inform you, sir," Adeenya said, "but that's not why I'm here."
Jhoqo watched her for a moment. "Then tell me, Orir, exactly why you are here," he said.
"Sir, I'm here to tell you to not let it happen again," she said, stiffening her posture. "If my people are to be sent somewhere, I expect to know ahead of time."
"Orir, you said I was in command, didn't you? The resources in this citadel are mine to utilize," Jhoqo said. "And that includes your forces."
Adeenya relaxed her st
ance and looked the man in the eyes. "Never again without my knowledge, Urir. Never."
Before Jhoqo could respond, Adeenya left the building, leaving the door wide open behind her. She felt better. She wished Taennen could experience what she just had.
Taennen strode through the courtyard, ignoring the salutes as he went. They meant nothing. The men giving them had not believed in the gesture since before their fight with the formians. That fight was why Taennen had lost the respect of both his men and Jhoqo. His feet felt heavy and part of him screamed to stop, but he moved forward simply to be away from anything.
"Taennen," Loraica called. She jogged toward him, her leather armor creaking as it tried to contain her mass through the jostling motion.
"Terir," he said.
"Can we talk a moment, sir?" she said.
"Of course. Walk with me."
"I'm concerned about you, Taen," she said.
He stopped and looked at her. His oldest friend's brow was creased, her eyes big and alert. "I'm all right, Lori."
"Are you sure? You don't seem all right. I saw what happened at the gate."
"I was angry and ashamed. I'm dealing with it."
"I'm glad," Loraica said.
"What is it, Lori? There's something else bothering you." Taennen had shared more with her than anyone else in the world. Stories of his childhood, hopes for the future, bruises, blood, tears, and joys. There was likely little they could hide from one another.
"You just seem different on this mission," she said.
Taennen thought about her words. "I suppose so. This is unlike any other mission we've been on, isn't it?"
Loraica shrugged. "I guess, but… forgive me, but I'm not sure I trust the orir, and you're spending more time with her than might be necessary," she said, her body stiffening to stand at attention.
"I'm not sure what to say, Lori. I'm glad you said something, but I don't think that's the case. I trust her so far, but I hope you can trust me when I say that I'm being cautious."
"I do, Taen. You know I do," Loraica said, a smile overtaking her face. "Oh, speaking of the orir, she asked me to tell you that something's come up in her ranks, so she'll try to catch up with you later."
"I see. Thank you. Can we break our fasts together on the morrow? I feel like we haven't had much time to relax together since we got here."
Loraica smiled. "You're on, sir. See you then."
Chapter Nine
Adeenya faced west, standing atop the wall, watching the vastness of the plains stretch out before her. She had asked Loraica to join her, but she could not guess what the Maquar woman would do.
When at last Loraica approached, Adeenya did not give any indication that she had heard the other woman coming near. They stood in silence for a few moments, both staring to the west. Adeenya turned to face the terir and, for the first time, appreciated Loraica's true size. She stood at least two heads taller than Adeenya and was nearly twice as broad through the shoulders. Her skin was darker, her features less distinguishable in the soft light. A foe to be reckoned with, but now, she hoped, an ally.
"Thank you for coming," Adeenya said. "I have a plan, but carrying it out requires your help."
"Why me?" Loraica asked. Some would have asked what the plan was first.
Adeenya smiled. "I'll be honest with you and admit that I had wished to convince Taennen to help me, but he seems…"
"Distracted," Loraica finished, and Adeenya agreed. "And why not go straight to Jhoqo?"
Adeenya weighed her options and chose honesty. "The urir seems… less than pleased by my participation in serious decisions here," Adeenya said.
Loraica looked to the west again and said nothing for a few moments. "What's this plan, then?" the Maquar asked.
Adeenya hid her surprise at the woman's lack of protest over her characterization of the Maquar leader. "Taennen was informed that someone inside the citadel, not an attacker, killed your wizard," she said.
"Who?" Loraica said, stepping back, her face wrinkled in confusion.
"His source didn't tell him," Adeenya said. "But if it's true, that person is helping the attackers and we must stop them," Adeenya said.
Loraica arched an eyebrow and said, "And who is this source?"
"The formian," Adeenya said, continuing to speak so as to cut off Loraica's objections. "Yes, I know. It's probably nothing. They're probably just angling for their freedom. But what if he did see something? Isn't it worth trying to find out? We could all be in grave danger."
Loraica shook her head but said nothing.
Adeenya could not say the words she truly wanted to say: The Maquar, bastions of law and order that they were, could not see what Adeenya saw. It was only her perspective as an outsider that told her for sure that Guk was not lying. She didn't think the beast capable of it, actually. In perhaps the biggest twist of irony she had ever seen in her life, Adeenya knew that the Maquar and the formians had a great deal in common. They both cherished law and hated disorder. But she doubted the Maquar would see it that way, so she painted her plan in a more hypothetical light.
"We need to lure that person out," Adeenya said. "Lure them out? Why not just interrogate the formian?" Loraica said.
Adeenya stared at the woman for a moment before saying, "Do you honestly believe that would help after having met the formian?"
Loraica shook her head. "But if there is no one, if the formian is lying, then how do you lure out someone who doesn't exist?" Loraica said.
"Then we're not luring them out. We're proving Guk is lying and that Jhoqo is correct. And, if Jhoqo is right, then what harm does it do? We can't do anything about a dead wizard who broke under torture, but we can do something if there is a traitor," Adeenya said.
Loraica rolled her eyes and turned away, saying, "This is pointless. There is no traitor."
Adeenya reached out to stop the Maquar woman and placed a hand on her shoulder. "There's something else," she said.
"What?" Loraica said, eyeing Adeenya's grip on her. "Something was stolen from me during the fight. Something no one should have known about," Adeenya said. "What was it, Orir?" Loraica said. "A pendant."
"Well, I'm sure it was valuable or held meaning for you, but-" Loraica began.
"No, no. It was magical. I used it to communicate to my commanders back in Durpar," Adeenya said.
Loraica looked at her for a long moment and said, "Go on.
"It was hidden away in my pocket, but they knew exactly where to look. They restrained me specifically to look for it," Adeenya said.
Loraica nodded and said, "I've always been told that items like that give off some sort of aura if you know how to see them. They probably just saw that aura when they looked and decided to take it."
"No," Adeenya said, shaking her head. "They specifically came after me. They knew what they were looking for, I'm telling you."
"Who else knew about this pendant?" Loraica asked, leaning in closer.
"Only a handful of my own soldiers and your wizard," Adeenya said.
Loraica jerked back at the mention of her comrade. "Khatib? How?" the large woman said.
Adeenya shook her head. "I'm not really sure. He approached me shortly after I used it to contact Durpar. He made it clear he knew about it, but said nothing else."
"This doesn't make any sense," Loraica said, easing herself against the wall.
"I agree, Terir. That's why I need your help. I don't believe any of my soldiers would have given out that information. Nor am I suggesting that Khatib betrayed us," Adeenya added, cutting short Loraica's objections. "But he knew about it and now he's dead. Perhaps whoever killed him didn't want him able to talk anymore."
Loraica drew herself to her full height again and spoke. "If the formian is telling the truth, then who would be fool enough to show themselves as Khatib's killer, regardless of what lure you use?" Loraica said.
Adeenya said, "I find foolishness is never in short supply." Before Loraica could respond, Adeenya continu
ed. "They'll reveal themselves if they think we already know who they are. If we spread the word that the formian knows who did it, then Khatib's killer either takes the chance that he or she won't be discovered… or eliminates the threat the formians knowledge represents," Adeenya said.
Loraica shook her head. "No. Jhoqo would never allow it. We're responsible for the prisoners and their safety."
Adeenya agreed and said, "There's no doubt that it's risky, but if there is a traitor among us, isn't it worth risking the life of a prisoner?"
Loraica continued shaking her head. "As a Maquar, a true soldier, we understand that the way we treat our prisoners indicates our own worth," the large woman said, folding her arms across her chest.
Adeenya took a deep breath and released it, holding back her barbed retort, before saying, "We do not kill our prisoners, and many Durpari have died protecting their prisoners in the past, as I'm sure have many Maquar. But we're talking about risking the formian for the safety of everyone in this citadel."
"This plan is the same as murdering the formian. He would become a target for Khatib's killer," Loraica said.
"For the traitor," Adeenya said. "Remember that. If there is a traitor among us, we need to lure him or her out before this goes any further. Before anyone else dies." She paused, letting her words sit on Loraica's mind. She wished she could make Loraica see what she saw, but knew it just wasn't possible. Adeenya cherished freedom and righteousness but knew that sometimes, the rules needed to be bent to achieve them. That was something a Maquar could never see.
Adeenya continued. "We will do everything we can to protect the formian until the traitor reveals himself. What's the other alternative? You agree we must reveal the traitor if there is one, yes?"
"Of course," Loraica said, pushing herself away from the wall to stand upright.
"And it seems quite possible that there is one, given Khatib's death, the attack, and my pendant, right?" Adeenya asked.
Loraica rolled her head from one shoulder to the other and ran a hand through her dark hair. Her lips curled and she asked, "And if we cannot protect the formian? If it dies?"