Silver Road (The Shifting Tides Book 2)

by James Maxwell

  ‘You understand why you have to hide, don’t you? It’s not that I want to leave you.’

  ‘It’s because of Nikolas,’ Sophia said.

  ‘You have to stay hidden until I find Father. I need to warn him that Nikolas is coming with an army. Tanus isn’t safe. Father and I will put a plan together. I’ll come back for you. I promise.’

  Sophia’s eyes welled but she nodded. Chloe squeezed her sister’s hand as she led her to a tight alleyway, with barely enough space between opposing walls for them both to fit. Approaching the rear of the single-storied stone house, she passed the vegetable garden and washing area until she reached the back entrance to the house itself.

  Her heart almost stopped when a bulky shadow approached, but when she saw the anxious apothecary waving to her urgently, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Come, come,’ Balion said. ‘Quickly, before you’re seen.’

  Sophia was hesitant as she followed Chloe and the sweating apothecary inside. But as soon as they had passed through the arched opening to the quarters where he lived with his wife and two children, the round-faced man turned and now he was smiling as he sank to one knee and faced her.

  ‘You must be Sophia,’ he said. ‘I’m Balion. Your sister’s asked me to take care of you until she returns. She tells me you’re a promising healer.’

  ‘Is that what you do?’ Sophia asked seriously.

  ‘I’m an apothecary,’ Balion said. ‘I make medicines. They can be made out of berries, roots, nuts, bark, herbs . . . even powdered stones. Would you like me to teach you?’

  ‘Can I help you find the ingredients?’ Sophia asked.

  ‘We’ll need to give you some new clothing, the same as my children wear, but then yes, once things settle down, I think you can.’

  ‘Balion is very wise,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ve been coming to him for years.’

  The apothecary returned to his feet and went to a corner of the room, taking a satchel and returning to Chloe. ‘Your supplies,’ he said. ‘You gave me too much silver. The rest is in a pouch inside. Are you sure you don’t need a horse?’

  ‘No,’ Chloe said. ‘I’ll attract less attention on foot. Once I’ve left the city, I’ll pick up a horse in one of the villages.’

  He harrumphed. ‘Be careful then. I wish you weren’t traveling alone.’

  ‘It’s not far to Tanus. I’ll be safe.’

  ‘At least—’

  ‘I’ve traveled the Phalesian Way before,’ Chloe said firmly. She recalled her mad dash with Dion as they’d sped home to give warning of the sun king’s attack. She wished Dion was with her now.

  ‘There’s a veil in there also. You might want to wear it.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’

  Chloe gave Sophia a final embrace. Her heart aching, she felt her sister’s sorrowful eyes on her as she left the house behind.

  19

  Chloe’s heartbeat quickened as she approached the city gates. Exiting or entering was generally a simple matter, and with her veil she should be safe. Surely no one could have discovered the dead guard yet?

  Suddenly she heard shouts coming from behind her. A growing commotion made her skin crawl. Men’s voices were calling out to one another; she hadn’t heard such a din since the Battle of Phalesia.

  She tensed, desperate to either turn around or start running. But she knew that if she sprinted through the gates she would only draw attention to herself. If pursuit had started this quickly, she had little chance of getting safely away.

  Chloe whirled.

  She wasn’t alone in turning around. Most of the farmers, herders, and other folk heading out of the city turned also, curious to see what the commotion was. Her heart racing, she saw that the furor came from the direction of the barracks. The avenue was broad and straight, and she could see that soldiers were out in numbers. The entire barracks was emptying out like a beehive struck with a stick.

  All over the lower city people stopped what they were doing to watch wide-eyed as officers bawled orders and the soldiers split into smaller groups. Immediately they scattered in all directions, some climbing the stairs to the upper city and others systematically spreading throughout the area.

  Chloe frowned; the disturbance didn’t appear to have anything to do with her. She even took a step forward, knowing that when she saw her father and Amos they would want to know what had caused the commotion.

  Then she saw the last person she’d expected to see.

  A slight young woman pushed her way through the crowd, heading toward Chloe, her heart-shaped face flushed and apprehensive. The onlookers, all staring the other way, barely noticed her. She was walking quickly but not running, a young woman with somewhere to be, worried she wouldn’t get there in time. She was heading directly for the city gates.

  The young woman was Liana.

  She had changed, so much that Chloe almost didn’t recognize her. Where her shoulder-length hair had been silver before, it was now red, the burnt color of hair dyed with henna, often seen on priestesses of Edra with their age starting to tell. She wore a clean white tunic, well-worn but mended. She carried a satchel over one shoulder and her delicate feet were bare. But, most surprising of all, she wore a copper-colored necklace. Liana was pretending to be human.

  Chloe glanced up, past Liana to the commotion in the street. Liana appeared as innocuous as a person could, the very image of weak and defenseless – even her face showed an expression without guile – but Chloe’s intuition told her that whatever the soldiers were so perturbed about, it had something to do with her.

  Chloe raised her veil. Despite her own need to be free from the city, she called out. ‘Liana!’

  Hearing her name, Liana’s eyes widened and she froze. She saw Chloe and her gaze darted left and right like a cornered animal.

  She began to run.

  With Chloe between her and the city gates and soldiers behind her, she headed for a side street. Chloe cursed and chased after her, putting on her own burst of speed. Liana glanced over her shoulder and saw Chloe gaining on her, but when she faced forward again she almost ran full tilt into a butcher’s cart.

  ‘Liana, stop!’

  Panicked, the girl continued into the alley, knocking aside a washerwoman carrying a basket. Clothing scattered over the ground and the washerwoman screamed after Liana, who ignored her and continued to sprint, looking back at Chloe with every stride, heedless of the cries she left in her wake.

  Chloe began to follow, but then slowed, finally coming to a halt. She felt the blood drain from her face.

  Half a dozen soldiers had their backs to Liana but they were blocking the narrow street. At any instant they would hear the shouts of the angry washerwoman and turn. Caught on both sides, Liana stopped.

  Chloe approached, realizing she had only a brief moment to talk to the eldran. ‘Liana, listen to me. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I’m fleeing the city,’ she said. ‘If you want to come with me, we have to go now.’

  Liana’s chest heaved. Her wild eyes turned on Chloe; she pondered for the shortest instant.

  Then she nodded.

  Sunset found the two new companions, one eldran, one human, passing through the farmland that surrounded the city, climbing hills, following the wide, rocky road that eventually became the Phalesian Way. Olive trees spread gnarled arms on both sides of the trail. The sun’s slanted rays bathed the surrounding peaks in a crimson glow. Now that they were away from the stench of the city, the air smelled fresh and fragrant, carrying scents of lavender and rosemary. Both Chloe and Liana were traveling on foot and burdened by satchels, but they were young and strong.

  Now Chloe listened to Liana’s story, shocked to hear that the eldren in the Wilds had suffered their own tragedy. Phalesia wasn’t the only place to have changed.

  ‘. . . and Zachary went after her,’ Liana said. Her voice was hollow. ‘It’s my fault.’

  ‘How could it be your fault?’
r />   ‘Aella was protecting me. I couldn’t change . . . I couldn’t defend myself.’

  ‘But that doesn’t make it your fault. Triton attacked the Village. If anyone is to blame, it’s him.’

  ‘Eiric blames me.’

  ‘He was upset. Is that why you went to Phalesia?’

  Liana nodded. ‘I wanted a chance to start again. To make a new life. Others have done it before.’

  ‘So what happened? Why were there so many soldiers looking for you?’

  ‘A . . . A woman gave me a job, working in the barracks.’ Liana glanced at her. ‘You know, cleaning and scrubbing.’

  Realization dawned. ‘Let me guess,’ Chloe said. ‘You were found out.’

  Clutching her satchel tightly, Liana answered quickly. ‘Yes. That’s what happened. I thought I could fit in. But living in a city full of humans is not easy.’

  Chloe shook her head. ‘There is a lot about our culture your people aren’t aware of, the way we interact with each other and work together.’

  ‘I know. I’ve learned that now.’

  ‘The assault on the Village,’ Chloe said. ‘Dion . . . He wasn’t hurt?’

  ‘He took a blow to the head, but he was well enough last I saw him. And you, why are you fleeing the city?’

  ‘My father needs me,’ Chloe said. ‘Something went wrong between him and the king of Xanthos. He was forced to flee to Tanus. Now Nikolas is trying to outmaneuver him by leading the army to Tanus. Father is in more danger than he knows.’

  ‘Chloe,’ Liana suddenly said. ‘Can I ask you something?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Who is the wisest person you know? Someone you trust more than any other. If you had a burden to bear, who would you choose to share it with?’

  ‘My father,’ Chloe said with certainty. ‘He is wise and kind.’

  ‘Do you think . . . Will you take me to him?’

  Chloe glanced up at the sky, seeing that it would be dark soon. Fortunately it was summer, and it wouldn’t be cold beneath the stars.

  ‘I’m going now to find him. But, Liana, it’s going to be dangerous.’ Chloe glanced at Liana’s satchel. ‘Do you have supplies?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then what’s in there?’

  ‘Something precious to me,’ Liana said defensively.

  Chloe decided to let her have her secret. ‘I have some silver, and we can pick up supplies on the way, but there won’t be enough left for horses. That means we’ll have to travel hard, from sunup to sundown.’

  ‘I don’t mind. Please, let me come with you.’

  Seeing Liana’s anxious expression, Chloe reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s find a camp for the night.’

  20

  The dawn sky dripped with the colors of the sun god Helios’s paintbrush, early light sparkling on the curling waves and the placid waters farther from shore. There was little wind, and though the day promised to be burning hot, the morning was still and tranquil, giving Nikolas some much needed time to think.

  He stood on the beach of white pebbles, legs astride and head tilted back as he watched a distant rowing galley draw inexorably closer. Oars swept back and forward in unison as the vessel fought the outgoing tide. Behind Nikolas the defensive bastion loomed, casting a wide shadow over the area. His king’s guard would be standing on the embankment, eyes on him at all times. The sense of solitude was pretense, but it was calming.

  Gazing out at the blue water, watching the approaching galley, Nikolas thought about how small the Maltherean Sea had become since the Ileans’ attack. At any moment his enemy could come again, striking Xanthos, Phalesia, or both. The secret route through the Shards was secret no more. He was working to repair the biremes captured after the battle and to build new warships until he had a large fleet. But building ships took time, and time didn’t work in his favor.

  His commanders told him that Balal would give them the strength to prevail, but Nikolas knew that achieving victory over a mightier foe would require more than trust in prayer. He had to take the battle to his enemy’s heartland.

  ‘King Nikolas.’ A hesitant voice spoke behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

  Nikolas turned and saw Nilus, looking ill at ease despite his fine embroidered tunic and the new gold medallion dedicated to the god of justice hanging from the chain around his neck.

  ‘Nilus,’ Nikolas said, turning his attention back to the approaching galley. ‘Come to welcome the newcomers to your city?’

  Nilus came to stand beside him and wrung his hands. ‘No, not exactly.’

  ‘Well?’ Nikolas asked, still staring out to sea. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I take it you haven’t heard?’

  ‘I spent the last night in the Temple of Balal,’ Nikolas said. ‘Seeking answers to important questions.’

  ‘If you’d left word, we could have found you . . .’

  Nikolas frowned. ‘Since when should I notify you of my comings and goings, First Consul?’

  ‘The horn of Marrix is missing,’ Nilus said the words in a rush.

  Nikolas felt his heart beat out of time. He rounded on Nilus and lifted a finger, speaking in a low tone. ‘You told me soldiers would be surrounding it at all times.’

  ‘Someone got past them. The . . . The iron chest is rusted through. I don’t understand it, but it appears that Aristocles was right. It needed a container of gold.’

  ‘Rusted? So an eldran could have taken it?’

  ‘It is possible. Yes.’

  ‘So any day we could be facing an army of wildren, if sounding the horn truly allows them to be controlled?’

  ‘I honestly don’t know. We’re doing all we can. I have men out in numbers . . .’

  Nikolas took a slow, steadying breath as he thought. ‘Stay quiet about this. Keep it among the men. The last thing we need is a panic. And if Triton wasn’t the culprit, it’s better for us all if he believes we still have it.’

  Nilus nodded. ‘I concur. Leave it to me, King. We’ll find it.’

  Nikolas turned his attention back to the galley but his mood had been shattered by the news. His teeth were clenched tightly. Either Chloe had lied about what Zachary had said, or Zachary had lied to her.

  The large rowing vessel left the deeper water and passed into the light blue shallows. Nikolas could now make out the occupants: a dozen crew, led by a stocky woman with close-cropped blond hair. She stood with her hand on the mast, barking orders and shielding her eyes. Seated at the bow was a well-dressed rangy man with short gray hair and a neat beard. Nikolas began to walk forward to greet them as they disembarked.

  ‘Wait,’ Nilus called after him. ‘There is something else.’

  ‘What is it this time?’ Nikolas turned to face the portly consul.

  ‘Aristocles’ daughters are missing.’

  Nikolas felt a surge of rage, bringing heat to his face. His mouth worked soundlessly, before his face finally curled in a scowl. ‘My wife is missing and you’re only telling me now?’

  Nilus’s eyes narrowed. ‘As I said, we’ve been looking for you. You picked a poor time to sequester yourself in the temple. It was only now when I thought you might be here . . .’

  ‘Enough.’ Nikolas cut the air with his hand. ‘Tell me what happened.’

  ‘Someone freed the two girls. Stabbed their guard in the throat.’

  ‘Amos?’

  ‘It’s possible, but unlikely. I would expect Aristocles to be halfway to Tanus by now. Perhaps someone else, a friend? There may be a connection to the horn’s disappearance. Chloe is close to the eldren as you know. Perhaps even your brother . . .’

  Nikolas’s scowl deepened. ‘I see the connection.’

  ‘With no heir of your own, your death would make him king.’ Nilus glanced back at the helmeted guardsmen watching their king from the embankment. ‘You are wise to keep your guards close.’

  Nikolas shook his head. ‘He wouldn’t harm me directly. We were on
ce close, as close as brothers can be. No, it is the threat from across the sea that keeps me awake at night.’ His lips thinned as he muttered. ‘First she defies me and travels to the Wilds, now this. I’ll find her, Nilus, as the gods bear witness. She’ll learn her place.’

  ‘We’ve initiated a search.’

  ‘She’ll be on her way to join her father. Likely where I find one, I’ll also find the other.’ He looked down at the galley as the crewmen pulled the vessel up on the beach. ‘Come, First Consul.’

  The stocky woman and rangy man were already climbing the shore, and Nikolas couldn’t help contrasting them. Roxana was as rough-voiced and thick-skinned as any sailor, at ease on the sea, and even now her coarse trousers were wet through from jumping out early to help her crew with the ship. She was originally from Efu, in Haria, a place Nikolas knew nothing about, where she’d performed much the same role she performed for Nikolas now, but she had been enslaved after Solon conquered her city and taken to Lamara.

  Seeing her value, Kargan, overlord of the sun king’s fleet, had given her a ship and crew, as well as appointing her to supervise much of the work in the naval yards, but she had kept her status as slave. Nikolas had made her a free woman after the Battle of Phalesia, and was the third successive ruler she’d built ships for. Many of her crewmen and workers were Ileans she’d demanded he free also. Nikolas had given Roxana the villa she’d demanded and tasked her with making Xanthos into a naval power.

  The lean man who walked beside her, Glaukos, had weathered skin, a trimmed beard, and tidy gray hair. He was a farmer through and through, a typical Xanthian who disliked the sea and any form of restless roaming as much as he felt pride in a well-ordered homestead and a freshly plowed field. He was the owner of an immense farming estate inland, the largest in Xanthos. He hated being an administrator, which was one of the reasons he made such a good one.