Black Sun Light My Way

by Spurrier, Jo

  Osebian opened his eyes once, towards the end, and there was so much panic and fear in his gaze that Sierra began to sob, even as she cursed herself for her weakness. She didn’t believe Osebian would have felt a moment’s regret while Cam was gasping beneath his hands. This was hardly the first time she’d killed, but the other times had been in the midst of a battle of one sort or another. This was her first calculated murder.

  Since they couldn’t risk having Osebian cry out, they stayed with him until he fell still, his face black and swollen as it pressed against the bars. Then, with shaking hands, Sierra locked the cell door behind them and returned the key to its hook. With the servant’s body propping the concealed door open and letting light in from the chamber beyond, the sight of it would have taunted anyone locked within the cell.

  With the decoy in place, Cam set about helping her arrange the scene. The bodies were still fresh. With the servant’s dagger Sierra set about making it look like they’d been killed in close fighting.

  When it was done she found Cam kneeling beside one of the guards, trying to strip the corpse of its clothing. She could see his strength flagging, and she hurried to stop him. ‘Cam, leave him, come away …’

  ‘By the Black Sun, Sirri, you’ll need his clothes — you can’t go out like that. You’ll freeze to death and draw too much attention into the bargain …’ She was still naked. ‘Although how we’re going to hide the corpse I don’t know.’

  ‘Cam, leave him. I meant what I said before. I can’t leave.’

  He turned on her then with real anger — anger that must have been pent up since the moment he found her missing. ‘Curse you! After all I’ve been through I’m not leaving without you! Why are you arguing with me? Do you want to stay locked up in this filthy cage, being used as a sorcerer’s whore?’

  The words hit her like a slap to the face, but Sierra was detached enough to see he meant to shock her and break through the wall she’d built to survive here. ‘I’m still a danger,’ she said, ‘to you and Isidro and everyone else. He survived what I did to him last time, but who’s to say we’ll be so lucky again? That’s why I left. In this state I can’t help but harm the people around me, and if that’s the case, I need to be around the people who deserve to be harmed.’

  ‘No,’ Cam said, shaking his head. ‘No, I don’t believe it. There has to be another way.’

  Sierra covered her face with her hands. This was why she’d crept away in the middle of the night, and done her best to keep him from following. ‘There isn’t, Cam. This is my only option. If I leave now, nothing will change — I’ll never have a chance to destroy Kell, and I’ll never be able to master my powers. By the Black Sun, please stop tempting me! If I don’t see this through, then everything I’ve endured here will have been for nothing, and I don’t think I can take that. As long as I have a purpose for being here I can stay sane, but if I give up now …’ She realised then that she was weeping, tears were streaming down her face.

  Cam seized her around the shoulders and pulled her close, cradling her against his chest as she sobbed. ‘Sirri —’ he began.

  ‘Don’t say it! Don’t tempt me further, I’m begging you! Please, just go. Go and stay alive, and you’ll give me what I need to go on. But after what I’ve done to Issey and you, and to Mira and the others … I can’t face them until I’ve finished this.’

  He held her for a long time; when he finally pulled away all the anger was gone from his gaze, and what remained was only sadness. ‘Then I’d best be off,’ he said, bowing his head.

  ‘Wait,’ Sierra said, ‘just a moment longer. There are some things here you can use …’

  Osebian’s servant had a satchel, into which she stuffed any gear he might find useful — a tinderbox, some tea, a good supply of roasted barley flour and a couple of bowls. Then, in the medicine cabinet she found a box of glass vials, each sealed with a waxed cork. She opened one to sniff it cautiously and be certain she had the right stuff. Satisfied, she wrapped it in a clean rag and handed it to Cam. ‘Keep this close by at all times. It’s a very powerful drug; Kell uses it to revive prisoners who faint under torture. If you feel you’re about to collapse, take a drop of it under your tongue — the smallest you can manage, and only when you absolutely have to. It will give you strength, but too much will make your heart burst. Cam, if it seems you’ll be captured again … drink the whole vial. It’ll kill you in the space of a few heartbeats. It’s not an easy death, but better than being brought back here. Don’t let them take you alive again, please.’

  He took it carefully from her fingers, and tucked it away in a pouch he’d hung around his neck. ‘I won’t, Sirri, I promise.’

  ‘Now let me see that map. I’ll make contact with Issey, and you can go on your way.’

  Isidro?

  He came awake at once, electrified by her voice and the power spilling through the connection. With Delphine’s warm body pressed against his and her hair tickling his nose, he went perfectly still.

  I’ve found Cam, I’m setting him free, but you’ll have to come and meet him.

  She opened the connection fully, and Isidro saw him through her eyes. Cam was beaten and bloody, his face strained with exhaustion, but alive. How?

  There’s no time to explain, but he has horses and a way out of the camp. We’re at the old Bear fort on the Greenstone River. She looked down, focussing on a map spread out on the table as Cam traced a path along it. It was not far from where he had first found Sierra, and near to the region Charzic’s outlaws roamed. He says he’ll head for the White Tiger Ranges, and aim for the valley where you killed that big black boar last spring — do you know the one?

  I — yes, yes, I know it. Show me that map again … He rolled out of bed and stumbled through the darkness, fumbling for a waxed tablet and stylus. When he found one he sat on the bare floor and copied the map as best he could. Are you going with him?

  He felt her draw a sharp breath. I can’t. I just can’t. Get to him as quickly as you can. I hope I’ve bought him a few days’ grace, but after that they’ll hunt him with every man they can spare.

  Sierra’s heart was in her throat as she heaved the door open to let Cam into the snowy courtyard. On the night Rasten had brought her here the yard had been full of men, but now it was deserted. How Osebian had managed such a thing, she couldn’t imagine.

  Two horses were tethered nearby, huddled together against the night chill. Sierra wore a scavenged coat against the cold and nothing else, trusting her power to keep her bare feet from freezing. She was already shivering, but she could hardly keep her eyes from the starry sky and the vast emptiness overhead. Instinct urged her to mount up behind him and let him take her away, and Sierra shook with the effort of resisting it. Was this how Rasten had felt, when her escape had presented him with the opportunity to leave Kell’s side?

  ‘I’d best not keep you out for long,’ Cam murmured, and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Contacting Isidro had been the most painful ordeal she’d endured in this place, and the whole time she’d been terrified the hope she was giving him was false, and they’d find the courtyard full of armed men. She would have waited until Cam was safely away, but Isidro needed to see the map so he would know where to search. Just let him live, she prayed to the Black Sun. If I’m truly your child then grant me this one wish. Let him live, and keep him safe.

  Cam turned to her with a troubled gaze, then took her face between his mittened hands and kissed her. ‘Sirri …’ he said, but then he fell silent with a shake of his head. There was nothing more to say.

  It took him two attempts to swing into the saddle. Once he’d gathered up the reins, she held out her hands, and he nudged his mount closer to make contact with her cold skin. She drew the pain out of him like poison from a wound, and when it was done, he gave her a warrior’s salute before turning the horses towards the gates.

  She watched until he was out of sight, and only then did she close and bolt the doors behind him. Insi
de, she warmed herself in front of the stove and washed, removing every hint of his scent from her skin. She hated to imagine what Rasten would do if he smelled another man upon her. With one last look over the chamber, checking for any sign of her presence, she pulled on Rasten’s shirt and padded back through the dark, chill halls to crawl into bed with him once again.

  Chapter 12

  Isidro was pacing Nirveli’s chamber in bare feet when Delphine returned with Ardamon scowling at her heels and Mira rubbing sleep from her eyes. ‘Isidro, what is this?’ Ardamon demanded. ‘This mad woman says that Cam’s been freed —’

  ‘It’s true,’ Isidro said. ‘He’s on the run as we speak.’

  ‘But how can you be sure?’ Mira’s red hair was dull and unkempt, and she had dark circles under her eyes. ‘How do you know it wasn’t just a dream?’

  Isidro raised his hand and let Sierra’s power spill, shedding brilliant blue sparks in a glowing rain. ‘A dream wouldn’t give me this power.’

  Mira narrowed her eyes. ‘How can we trust her after all she’s done?’

  ‘She wouldn’t lie to me. Mira, I saw him through her eyes. He’s been knocked around a bit, but he’s in one piece and he needs our help.’

  Ardamon stepped forward, gazing up at Nirveli’s wall. A map of the ranges to the southwest glowed upon the stone. Ardamon glanced from it to the tablet in Isidro’s hand. ‘What’s this map?’

  ‘Sierra took it from some men sent to kill him. I don’t truly know what happened, but she thought they were going to use it to evade the troops around the fort. This happened moments ago — he’s not even out of the camp yet.’

  ‘Can he make it past the gate guard?’ Mira asked.

  ‘He can pass as Mesentreian,’ Isidro said. ‘Sierra wouldn’t have sent him out if she thought he’d be caught again …’ He gestured to the map. ‘He’s right at the edge of the ranges. We spent two years in that country. If he can make it past the camps without being seen, he can lose himself in the hills.’

  ‘Supplies?’ Ardamon asked.

  ‘A week’s worth, at most. But I haven’t seen the sun in months — surely it’s nearly spring? He knows how to live off the land.’

  ‘It’s early for there to be much to find, but he might scrounge enough to keep himself alive if he’s not injured too badly,’ Ardamon said. ‘And if he stays out of sight.’

  ‘We have to go find him,’ Isidro said. ‘Now!’

  ‘If we leave, the Akharians will take the Spire,’ Mira said. ‘But I suppose that’s inevitable now, with the treaty all but signed. Ardamon, what hour is it, do you know?’

  ‘A few hours from dawn, I’d say,’ Ardamon said. ‘It’ll take us that long to pack and get moving. But my father and Lady Tarya won’t let us go willingly.’

  ‘Then we’ll just have to refrain from making our farewells,’ Mira said with ice in her voice. ‘We’ll need a copy of this map.’

  ‘I can do that,’ Delphine said, stepping forward.

  ‘We’ll also need horses,’ Ardamon said. ‘I’ll send Floren and Grasic to arrange it. What about supplies?’

  ‘I started putting a little of everything aside a few weeks ago,’ Mira said. ‘If we forage on the way it might see us through.’ She glanced from Ardamon to Isidro and back. ‘Shall we get to work?’

  Delphine worked slowly and meticulously as she transcribed the glowing lines on the wall, and Isidro returned just as she finished. ‘Delphi …’ he said, and hesitated, steeling himself. ‘Are you coming with us? Or Mira can give you an escort back to your people if you prefer.’

  Delphine pushed her hair back from her face with ink-stained fingers. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said at once. ‘Cam’s a long way away, and the odds are against him. Delphi, you’ve been my rock these last few weeks. If you’re willing to come, I’ll be grateful, but Mira and Ardamon want me to send you back to the legions.’

  Delphine clenched her jaw. ‘Rubbish to that. I’m coming with you.’

  The relief in his face was plain. ‘Thank you.’

  Once the ink had dried, Delphine packed up her writing kit and set about packing her gear. Back when she had slaves and porters to carry her belongings, she’d accumulated several trunks of equipment, but most of it had been left in Earthblood. After the Akharian retreat what she’d brought into the cavern had been ransacked by the freed captives, and now Delphine had so little that all her belongings fitted into the kitbag Isidro found for her. She packed Isidro’s things as well to spare him the trouble, and found the harness she’d made for his arm all those months ago, still containing the crumbling remains of the stones. When everything was packed, Delphine gathered the straps and buckles and went into the hallway, where she contemplated the dampening room in which she had been imprisoned all those weeks ago.

  In the weeks since they’d taken control of the Spire, Mira had gauged the loyalties of those who sheltered in the depths and surrounded herself with folk who were willing to serve her cause. When Ardamon called for volunteers to ride out in search of Cam, few hands had gone unraised, and now the camp was in chaos as servants and soldiers alike worked to dismantle tents and stoves. This late in the year sleds were useless, and everything must be carried on horseback.

  Ardamon had not taken Isidro’s news well. ‘Can’t you speak to the wretched woman? Surely it’s in her best interests to go back now; there’s nothing to gain by putting it off.’

  ‘She’s coming with us, Ardamon, and that’s all there is to it.’

  He gave a heavy sigh. ‘Very well, but I won’t have her get in the way or slow us down. She’s your responsibility, Balorica, is that clear?’

  ‘Perfectly,’ Isidro said.

  As he spoke, a great percussive boom reverberated through the cavern, and the rock beneath their feet trembled. A blast of power washed over Isidro, making the hairs on his arms stand on end. The lanterns dimmed as shouts of alarm rang through the cavern.

  ‘Fires Below!’ Ardamon said. ‘What in the Twin Sun’s name was that?’

  ‘I’d best find out,’ Isidro said, turning towards the doorway.

  ‘Your problem, Balorica!’ Ardamon called after him as he ducked out of the tent.

  Isidro tried to hurry, but he only made it to the cascade before the throbbing in his arm forced him to slow. At the edge of the stream he met Rhia and Amaya hurrying to the site of the blast, and stepped back to let them go first.

  He met them again at the base of the stairs, standing over Delphine as she sat on the lowest step, gasping for breath. The only sign of disturbance was the energy crackling in the air and the tingling scent of thunder. ‘What happened?’ he asked.

  ‘She ought to be deaf if she was down here with all that noise,’ Rhia said.

  ‘I’m fine,’ Delphine said. ‘I had a shield. I just didn’t expect it to be quite so dramatic.’ She was winded and struggling to talk, but seemed unhurt.

  Leaving Delphine to catch her breath, Isidro went to explore the prickling cloud of energy. It was thickest in front of the dampening chamber, but there was no damage, even though the blast should have torn the door from its hinges. Isidro couldn’t bring himself to go inside, but he rested his hand on the doorframe and leant towards the threshold, thinking of all the times he’d stood there talking to Sierra as she sheltered behind those shields.

  It took him a long moment to register the difference in the stone. The enchantment was gone. The dampening shields that made him feel like he was suffocating simply did not exist.

  ‘I thought it would be best,’ Delphine said from the base of the steps. ‘Can you imagine what my people would do with those shields? Or yours, for that matter …’

  He stepped through the doorway, turning to the corner where he had seen Sierra huddled so many times, with her arms wrapped around her knees and her head resting upon them.

  Shaking his head, Isidro went back to Delphine. ‘I didn’t think it would be possible to destroy them.’
<
br />   She gave him a faint smile. ‘Few things are truly impossible. It is a shame — those enchantments lasted a hundred years without decay — but I’d hate to see them used against you or me, or Sierra, for that matter.’

  Since she was not hurt, Rhia and Amaya returned to their tasks. ‘There’s one thing still bothering me,’ Delphine said once they were alone. ‘The books. My people will take them to Akhara.’

  ‘I was worrying about that,’ Isidro said. ‘But we can’t take them with us; we’d need a whole train of packhorses to carry them. The clan will either burn them or give them to the Slavers. I thought maybe we should burn them ourselves — Nirveli has them all memorised, anyway — but the idea doesn’t sit well.’

  ‘No,’ Delphine said. ‘If something were to happen to the installation, Nirveli could be lost as well. And that’s assuming you’ll ever get this place from the Akharians.’

  ‘There’s Milksprings …’ Isidro said.

  ‘But Milksprings doesn’t have half the texts the Spire does; and honestly, that enchantment is child’s play compared to what Vasant did here.’ Delphine frowned to herself. ‘Could we take some of them with us?’

  ‘I’m sure we can manage a few,’ he said. ‘But what about the rest?’

  ‘Perhaps we could hide them,’ Delphine replied. ‘But where? I don’t have the skill to conceal a cache out in the cavern. And how is anyone to find them when it’s safe to come back? We may not see this place again for years — I wouldn’t be surprised if you have to send your descendants to find them.’

  ‘And we can’t write down the location,’ Isidro said. ‘Too easy for it to fall into the wrong hands.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Delphine said. ‘They might be discovered anyway — my people could take this place apart stone by stone. But it’s our best chance.’

  ‘Alright,’ Isidro said. ‘Your people toured the Spire: they’d notice if we sealed off one of the chambers.’

  Delphine pursed her lips and gazed along the hall. ‘How about right here? I could lift the floor and excavate a pit underneath. With the stones laid back down over the top you’d never know the difference.’