WINDREAPER

by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

  "I'll get him, Milord," another man babbled. He pushed clumsily to his feet, stumbled to the kitchen door, and reached inside. A small cry came from the kitchen. The Temple Guard whimpered, his hands coming away from whatever he had been holding. He backed across the room. "I didn't mean to hurt him!" he muttered, trembling from head to toe. "Before Alel, I didn't mean to hurt the boy, Lord Conar!"

  From the kitchen, a small boy of about three years rushed out. He looked wildly around him, as if searching for a way to get out of the room. But when his gaze rested on Conar, he stopped and stared, his mouth dropping open in surprise.

  Looking into the boy's dark blue eyes, Conar knew. A cold shaft of horror entered his heart. A hard shudder ran down his body. Slowly, he came to his feet, tore his gaze from the boy, and looked at Sentian. "Bring him," he instructed and started toward the door.

  "The boy could be anyone's," Sentian said.

  "He's mine." Conar halted in the doorway, sucking in fresh, chill air. At his fierce gaze, guards at the door backed away. A muscle ground in his cheek as he stared across the courtyard. "Every evil thing that has ever happened to me has happened here," he snarled. His vision swept the crumbling buildings before spearing the guard on his right. "I want every timber, every board, every shingle brought down. I want the stable burned to the ground and the ashes cast as far from this unholy place as they can fly!"

  The guard nodded.

  As Conar stalked to his horse, he shrugged aside Shalu's restraining hand.

  "You can't be certain the boy is—"

  "The bastard's mine, Taborn!" Conar's mouth twisted with loathing. "He's Raja's spawn. I can smell her on him!"

  * * *

  "And he brought him here to the keep?" Legion asked, his mind still reeling with the knowledge that, after nearly a six-week absence, Conar had returned with a son.

  "The boy been given a room in the guard hut," Brelan said. "Ordinarily I would have questioned why Conar sent him there, but once you see the brat, you'll understand." Brelan shook his head. "There's something about this child that scares the hell out of me."

  Legion frowned. "In what way?"

  "For one thing, he doesn't look at you, he looks through you. I tried speaking to him and he told me he doesn't deign to speak with hirelings."

  Legion chuckled. "Hirelings? Is that what you are, Saur?"

  Brelan's lip lifted. "That's how Tohre sees me, I suppose, so I would imagine that is the way the child views me, as well."

  "I'll have to remember that," Legion muttered, grinning.

  "But I don't understand why Tohre sent the boy to Conar," Teal du Mer remarked.

  "That child hates Conar," Sentian said. "You can see it in the way he looks at Conar. I had to drag his little ass out of the tavern and practically tie him on my horse. The whole time, he's telling me to get my fucking hands off him."

  "Those were the words he used?" Cayn, the Healer asked, his face set in hard lines of disapproval.

  "His precise words, sir," Sentian answered. "Here he is, screeching and clawing at me, spouting words that were turning the air blue, when Conar spun Seachance around and galloped back to us. He grabbed the boy's chin and told me to gag him with my kerchief."

  Legion gasped. "A little boy like that?"

  Sentian snorted. "That little boy raked his nails down Conar's hand and drew blood! Then took a good-size bite out of the back of Conar's hand! Conar tore off his belt and tied the boy's hands to the pommel. And it's a good thing he did or the little bastard might have turned those wicked fingers on me." He pointed to his left leg. "As it was, he got in a few good kicks!"

  "What does he say about the boy?" Legion asked.

  "What can he say?" Brelan countered. "He knows he's the boy's father. He knows the child hates him."

  "Has, by all probability, been taught to hate him," Cayn added.

  "Aye," Brelan said. "It doesn't seem to bother him all that much, but you rarely know what Conar's really thinking."

  "Kaileel's up to something," Legion mused. "Considering the horrible things he's done to Conar's children, why would he send this boy here? To hurt Conar?"

  "Most likely," Brelan answered. "If he has any of his father's powers, he can cause Conar a headache or two."

  "It's not just his father's powers you must be concerned with, Bre," Liza remarked from the fireplace where she sat huddled in her shawl. "His mother has her own—powers of the Multitude and the Dark Ones."

  "Raja?" Legion laughed. "The only power that slut has is in the lower part of her body!"

  Liza turned to Brelan and Sentian. They were not laughing. They had been with Conar in Chrystallus and had witnessed what Raja was capable of doing.

  "You think she may play a part in this?" Brelan asked.

  "I know she will," Liza said.

  "Even if Raja is involved, what can she do?" Legion asked.

  "You forget, dearling, Raja was once of the Multitude, as was my mother and Conar's. They were all friends at one time. I had almost forgotten the conversation Conar and I had right after we married. He told me about the woman who had 'taught you all to be men.'"

  Brelan shrugged. "The bitch didn't teach me."

  "I remember now that Conar told me her name, and that she was a lady of the court, but 'Raja' is a common enough name." She shook her head. "If I had only asked him about her then, things might have been different."

  "What things?" Legion asked.

  "I knew all about Raja DeLyle. My mother told me how, long ago, this woman tried to seduce the King of Serenia."

  "Our father?" Brelan asked, obviously intrigued. "Surely she didn't succeed."

  "Not that I know of," Liza said, "but who can say for sure? It was before his marriage to Conar's mother. All I know is that the woman was sent from Boreas and came to Oceania. Since she and my mother were friends, and my mother did not fear her, she was allowed to stay in the palace. But when she tried that same trick on my father, mother went before the Oracle to condemn her. The Oracle called all the Daughters to the Shadowlands and held a trial. The Oracle was angry that Raja had tried to defile another Daughter's consecrated marriage, and ordered her banished from the Multitude, thereby taking away a great deal of her powers."

  "Then she can't be any real threat to Conar," Cayn put in.

  Liza glanced at the Healer. "Did you know her?"

  He frowned. "Unfortunately, I did."

  "Then you know she was clever. She went before the Dark Demons. The Multitude knew the moment she did, but before they could stop her, she had sold her soul to the forces of evil in return for making her socially acceptable to the great houses again."

  "But that wasn't all she acquired, was it?" Brelan asked.

  "I'm afraid not," Liza answered. Pulling her shawl around her, she looked out the library window, seeing sights that haunted her. "No one knew she had been granted anything other than that so-called respectability. She was allowed to return to Serenia because King Gerren felt sorry for her. She never returned to Oceania while my mother was alive, though." She shuddered.

  "Liza?" Legion asked.

  "Conar's mother had been friend's with this woman, had trusted her. Raja had sworn never to use her dubious wiles on any of the married men at Boreas." Her lips went tight. "No one, however, knew what she was doing with the young boys of the keep!"

  Legion smiled, but there was no real warmth in it. "She wasn't all that bad," he quipped, winking at Teal, who blushed and looked away.

  "Don't you see what she was really doing, Legion? She corrupted you. You and Teal and Conar. She could not have the men, so she took the boys, and in doing so, your innocence! She fed on that innocence and used it to feed the Dark Ones, who had to have been channeling minor powers into her with every corruption of flesh she encouraged!"

  Legion blinked. "I never looked at it that way."

  "You weren't meant to! You boys filled her with the very essence of yourselves, and she took that seed to the Dark Ones for safekeeping."
/>
  "Against what?" Brelan asked.

  "Against the time when it could be turned against you!" Again, Liza shuddered, tightly clutching her shawl. "And you would never know why you turned the other way when you could have stopped something from happening; never understand why something went wrong when it should have gone right; why you were powerless to stop Tohre from taking Corbin from me!" She glanced at another man who had been sitting quietly in the room. Chase Montyne's face was pale as he looked back at her. "Or when your homeland was being overrun with Domination forces."

  Legion let out a long, wavering breath. "It makes sense now, doesn't it?"

  "If I had only known!" Liza spat.

  "You can't blame yourself," Brelan said, reaching out to take her hand.

  Liza stepped away from him. "The bitch knew my mother's weakness—it was her sons! I don't know when Raja slept with them, but as sure as I am standing here I know she did. How else could our palace have been overrun so easily?"

  "What does this have to do with Conar?" Sentian asked. "I can see how it was easy for her to seduce him in Chrystallus, but—"

  "She will go after another innocent next." Her teeth clenched. "Conar's son—Corbin. She couldn't make Conar hers, so she'll try to take his legal son. She wants the power of the throne behind her, and it is that same conceit that will be her undoing."

  "You think she sent the boy here to distract Conar," Cayn ventured. "If he gets involved with that son, he'll be lax about the other."

  Liza nodded. "Among other reasons, that's why he's been sent here. Tohre wants Corbin, too. You have to remember that. He, too, was denied the father."

  "What other reasons could there be?" Legion asked.

  Liza's regard shifted to her husband. "Raja and Tohre have made damned sure the boy hates his father. You know how much Conar has always loved children. The more the boy hates him, the more time Conar will spend with him to overcome that hate. That is his nature."

  "But he hasn't even seen the boy since we brought him to the keep," Sentian interrupted.

  "He will," Liza assured him. "I know Conar."

  "The thing to do is keep a close watch on the boy," Cayn injected. "On both the boys. Also, how convenient for that boy to be in the keep with Conar—he might have been sent to help someone else get inside. Someone who means Conar harm."

  "I'll assign a guard to the brat day and night!" Sentian snarled.

  "But there is something all of you must never forget," Liza warned. "The boy hates Conar, and if he hates with an unholy passion, even a child can be deadly!"

  Chapter 11

  * * *

  He nocked the arrow and took careful aim. Easily he pulled the bowstring taut and lifted the long bow to his right cheek, sighting down the length of the deadly missile. Releasing his second and third fingers, he let the shaft fly. It sang unerringly through the air and landed dead center of the straw target. Smiling grimly, he reached behind for another arrow, and in doing so, spied an intruder lurking behind a nearby tree.

  He frowned. "What do you want, Prince Corbin?"

  The boy came from around the tree, his face blazing red beneath the intense scrutiny Conar aimed his way. "May I speak with you, Milord?"

  "About what?" He turned and nocked the new arrow. Sighting it, he scowled, for the lad had not answered. "Well?"

  "It's…it's about…"

  "What?" Conar spat, his nerves jumping in such a way his hand began to tremble. Where had he played this scene before? Looking at the training ground, at the men on the rise training under Thom Rayle, he thought he could hear Hern Arbra's devilish laughter booming at him from the trees.

  "It's about the new boy," Corbin managed to answer in a small voice.

  Stunned, Conar impaled his son with a look he hoped would quell the boy. "Stay away from him!"

  Corbin's chin rose. "Is it true what they are saying? Is he my brother?"

  "Stay away from him, do you hear me? I—" Conar shouted, catching himself before he could continue. He turned and fired another arrow, which spiraled away from the target, missing it by a good foot. "Do you see what interrupting a warrior can cause, Prince Corbin? If that had been an enemy attacking you, I would not have been able to protect you, now, would I?"

  Corbin looked at the ground. "If it had been an enemy, Milord, you would have hit your target."

  Conar's frown deepened, annoyed the boy had so much confidence in him. "We weren't discussing warfare—"

  "You brought it up," Corbin interrupted, locking his gaze with his father's. He didn't back away when Conar took a warning step forward.

  Conar snarled, cursing beneath his breath. He spun around with another arrow and fired it with uncanny speed, the arrow impaling the straw target in the very center.

  "I have a right to know if he's my brother," Corbin said, louder. There was a stubborn set to the small oval face

  "Come here!" More annoyed than angry, Conar threw down the bow, pointing to ground at his feet.

  Corbin sat, but didn't look away from Conar's intense gaze.

  "Prince Corbin," he began, "if you have heard the brat is your brother, then you have heard from where he came. You and I know that anything Kaileel Tohre discards, is not worth having. Do you agree?"

  "In most cases."

  Conar's eyes narrowed. "In all cases. Just because what he threw away is human, doesn't make it worth anything. Aye, it is true the brat is your half-brother." It was the closest he had come to admitting his connection to the boy, now watching him so carefully. "But he is as evil as his mother. He will harm you if given the chance. Never doubt that."

  "Does he have my powers? The powers I inherited from you?"

  "He has the combined powers of two sorcerers. The power you wield comes from the Multitude and from the Wind. The powers steeped inside this boy come entirely from the Domination. If you were to battle him—" A shiver went down Conar's spine. He felt cold, vulnerable, but he needed to stress the danger. "You would most likely win, but at a terrible price."

  "What is his name?"

  "Regan," Conar growled, jerking another arrow from his quiver.

  "Regan, what?"

  "Just Regan!" Conar answered, more than aware his hands were shaking as he hefted the bow to his face. "He needs no other name. People know who he is."

  Corbin was silent as he nodded. "You claim him, then? As your son?"

  Wanting this to be over, Conar snarled at him. "I have said as much! He is my son. I claim the little bastard! What more do you want to hear?"

  Corbin smiled sadly. "I have heard all I need to, I guess." He got up and turned away, then looked over his shoulder. "You claim him, but will not claim me. Why is that, Milord?" He didn't give Conar a chance to answer, but walked away, his little shoulders held erect.

  Conar felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. He wanted to cry with the pain of it. Something inside warned him to call out, to acknowledge the boy, but Corbin was already running up the incline to where the men were training.

  He threw down the bow once more and wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. "Stupid fool," he called himself. Putting his hands on his hips, he stared at the men, then trod heavily up the incline.

  Marsh Edan looked away from the two warriors locked in combat and smiled at his Overlord. "Come to play, did you?"

  Conar looked about. "Where's Corbi?"

  Marsh shrugged. "He ran by here a moment ago. He might be going over to the gym." There was concern on his sweaty face. "You don't mind him training with us, do you?"

  Conar's brow quirked upward. "He trains with you?"

  "Ever since he came back from the monastery." A scowl settled over Edan's countenance. "He asked if I could teach him to be a…"

  "Man," Conar whispered, momentarily plunging back through time.

  Marsh put a hand on Conar's shoulder. "I didn't think you'd mind, since you didn't have time for such things."

  Conar shuddered, striving to blot out the lingering sight of h
is own childhood. "But he is my son and I should have made the time."

  "Aye, but sometimes it's best if it's not the father doing the training, Coni. Did your own father train you? Did you ask him to?" At Conar's denial, Marsh smiled. "Why not?"

  Conar glanced at the ground. "I didn't think he'd have the time."

  "See?"

  "No, Coni came to you because I've never given him reason to come to me." A fearful thought entered his mind. "He stays with you in the compound at night?"

  "Aye. He's well protected, if that's what concerns you. The Queen gave permission—"

  Conar waved his hand, cutting off Marsh's defense. "I know you and Thom would guard him with your lives." He bit his lip and searched Marsh's face. "Does he…has he had…nightmares?"

  As though in deep thought, Marsh looked away from Conar. "I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone."

  Conar let out a hard breath. "And you haven't."

  "He worships you, Conar. He keeps telling me how much he wants to be like you. He's a fast learner, doesn't complain, does what he's told. He's coming along well. You have every right to be proud. He'll make a fine warrior, like his father." Marsh chuckled. "They say the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree."

  A hard lump formed in Conar's throat, making it hard to breath and swallow. "Just watch over him, Marsh. Don't let him get hurt."

  "And have his mama on my hide? I'd rather take my chances with an entire battalion of Diabolusian raiders than have Elizabeth A'Lex after me! Any man who hurts her boy will have her to deal with!"

  Conar tried to smile, but his lips felt frozen. Instead, he walked away, his thoughts on the multitude of mistakes he had made with Corbin. Instead of letting the boy know he was there for him, he had pushed him away. He had erected a wall between them that would not be easy to scale. By acknowledging Regan as his own, Conar knew he had further insulated himself from Corbin.

  He skirted the path leading to the keep and nearly ran down the spiraling road leading into town. With every inch of ground he covered, he cursed himself for being the insensitive, arrogant bastard he had become.