by J. K. Barber
“Add to this that the Ice Queen has a history of uniting disparate tribes,” Sasha chimed in, “like she did with the ice orcs in the Frozen March...”
“And you have a land ripe for subjugation,” Talas said. Everyone at the table turned to look at the priest, their faces wearing different expressions ranging from surprise to concern to sadness. Olivia’s countenance was deliberately neutral.
The silence amongst the Illyanders remained for several moments before Jared finally broke it. “Which brings us to the matter at hand,” he said. “How do we find Salamasca, and how do we stop her?”
“We kill her,” Katya and Sasha said, with one voice, briefly looking at each other and then back to the hunter. Jared blinked. The twins had been acting strangely this past year, he had noticed. Katya had displayed some of the same mannerisms as her sister. Though, when Jared mentioned it, she claimed not to know what the hunter was talking about. Similarly, Sasha had seemed to have come into a good deal of knowledge about magic, how it worked, and its effects. The swordswoman said she did not see what Jared saw. She had spent many years among sorcerers, not to mention her sister was one, and it stood to reason that she would have picked up such information. Jared believed that her knowledge had grown noticeably since they had first met, but Sasha dismissed his observation, saying that he had simply gotten to know her better. Even when Jared had argued with the twins separately about Gabriel being smuggled aboard The Isabella, they had used the same arguments, almost word for word, about their decision to bring the infant along. The hunter looked to Talas, for any signs that he noticed the twins had just spoken in unison, again. The priest was staring at Olivia though, who was doing her best not to notice.
“A good plan,” Iluak said, his tone one of determination.
“We tried that before,” Jared said, unable to keep the concern from his voice. The sooner they found the Ice Queen the sooner her threat to Aronshae would end. However, the defeat of Salamasca also meant the death of the twins, or so they all assumed, and everyone around the table, with the exception of Olivia, knew it.
“True,” Katya said. “But, this time there is no reason for the Great Mother to spare her.”
“With Gabriel here,” Sasha said, continuing her sister’s thought, “there is no reason we can’t fulfill our mission.” The twins looked out of the corners of their eyes at Olivia, who looked somewhat confused by their words, but did not ask any questions.
“We’ll talk about that later,” Jared said, and in private, he thought, raising his eyebrows slightly and then indicating the rest of the room with a glance. The twins nodded in unison, gleaning his message from his gestures. The hunter was once again reminded of Sasha and Katya’s increasingly strange behavior, but continued on regardless. “For now, we have to find her, before we can deal with her.”
“That, I can help with,” Olivia said, grinning. Jared, Iluak and the twins turned their gaze to the older woman. Talas had never looked away. “I have word on where she might be. For now, I would suggest turning in for the night. It’s going to be at least a day or two before I can finish putting together the supplies we’ll need to venture out into the deep desert. I wasn’t expecting you for another two days at least. The Mother must have favored you with good winds.” Talas stirred faintly at Olivia’s invocation of the Great Mother’s name, but Jared thought that he was the only one who noticed.
“Can we help with that?” Katya asked. “The sooner we can start our journey, the better.” Sasha nodded in agreement.
“Maybe you can,” Olivia responded to the sorceress’ inquiry. “Do you any of you know anything about traveling in the desert?”
The raven-haired twin shook her head, as did the rest of the Illyanders in turn.
The scout considered things for a moment before speaking. “Mostly we are waiting for our supplies to be assembled or delivered. There are only a handful of items that I still need to purchase here in Tammat and, no offense, but I don’t think you’re the best person to acquire them.”
“Why not?” Katya asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and indignation. The Master Sorceress wasn’t used to people telling her she couldn’t do something these days.
“Because,” Jared said. “They’re going to take one look at you and try to figure out how badly they can swindle the little pale-skinned jai girl out of her outlander gold.”
Katya’s brow furrowed in anger, but Olivia quickly interjected. “Unfortunately, Jared is right,” she said. “These merchants have met me. They know that I know what things are worth. They won’t bother trying to cheat me.”
“Look at it this way,” the hunter said, addressing Katya. “At least they’ll talk to you enough to try to trick you.” The sorceress shot Jared a look of confusion. “If I were to walk into their shop,” he explained, “they’d either refuse to speak to me or just have me thrown out.” Jared shrugged in response to his own statement. He had known things would be like this for him in the Eastern Kingdom, so he didn’t see the point in being upset about it.
“Is it because you dress like they do?” Sasha asked, indicating Olivia’s clothes. “If we were to wear such things, would they take us more seriously?”
“Maybe,” the scout replied. “But they would still treat you as jai.”
“Why do you dress like that?” Jared asked.
“Pardon?” Olivia replied, her voice betraying irritation.
Jared made a sign of supplication. “What I meant was, why do you wear black?” The hunter gestured to the rest of the room. “All of the Easterners wear black to go out into the desert. It’s something I’ve never understood.”
The scout smiled. “Because black gets hot in the sun?” she asked, a knowing glint in her eye. Jared got the impression she had answered this question before.
“Exactly,” he said.
“It does,” Olivia responded. When Jared didn’t reply she continued. “Darker clothing does get hotter in the sun than lighter colors.”
“Wouldn’t that make you warmer as well?” Iluak asked.
“That would be the assumption, but it doesn’t quite work that way,” she explained. “Black cloth heats up in the desert sun, causing the air around it to heat up as well. When it does, the warmer air rises, pulling the air inside the cloth along with it. And since the cloth you’ll be wearing is thin and loose fitting the air will flow freely. There will actually be a slight, almost constant breeze across your skin as air is pulled through the cloth on your legs and up through your clothes out through your shoulders.”
Jared nodded his head, seeing the logic. “Amazing,” he said quietly. There was so much he didn’t know about his father’s people and unfortunately, would probably never know. His mixed blood would see to that. The hunter looked at Olivia, suddenly jealous over her superior knowledge of the Eastern Kingdom. No use getting all twisted up over something you can’t change, he remembered Sirus saying to him more than once growing up. Jared had often railed against how unfair the world had seemed to him when he was younger. If he had only known how unfair, he wouldn’t have wasted the time and energy. Jared looked at Gabriel. At least his son would grow up with one parent, Great Mother willing, which was more than he had had.
Jugger’s low growling brought the hunter’s attention back to the present. Jared looked over Olivia’s shoulder to see a tall Eastern man approaching the table. Even the woodsman could see belligerence in the darkly-clad man’s stride. Apparently, the rest of the table had heard the large dog’s warning growl as well, since all eyes were on the tall man by the time he reached the Illyanders.
The Easterner made several angry gestures at Jared and Jugger with his left hand as he spoke at the hunter. Though he could not understand the taller man, Jared very easily read the tone of the man’s words and his body language. The repeated uses of the word jai-jin, made his message clear as well. Jared noted that the man’s right hand never strayed from his belt buckle, which was conspicuously close to the sword which hung from his be
lt. The blade was not as long as Jared’s, but the weapon had a much more distinctive curve to it, as well as a knuckle guard that ran from the hilt around to the pommel. The sword looked very well used.
Jugger growled more loudly, and Jared felt his anger mirroring that of the large mastiff.
Olivia slowly and deliberately stood up from the table, keeping her hands well away from her blades, and placed herself between Jared and the Easterner. Though the woodsman could not understand her words, the scout’s tone indicated that she was trying to diffuse whatever anger the man had towards Jared.
“Sit!” Talas hissed. Jared thought that the priest had been talking to Jugger, but when he looked down the hunter realized that his hands had gone to the armrests of his chair, and he was in the process of standing up. The look in Talas’ eyes clearly indicated that his word was not a request. Instead of standing, Jared leaned back in his chair placing one foot on the table’s edge; readying himself to kick over backwards and roll to his feet should it become necessary.
“What’s he upset about?” Sasha asked, transferring Gabriel to Iluak as nonchalantly as she could. Her left hand dropped below the table and Jared heard the Master Swordswoman loosen her sword in its scabbard. Talas placed a hand gently over Sasha’s as he concentrated on the angry man’s words.
“Do you…?” she asked before the priest hushed her. Sasha looked annoyed but remained quiet.
Katya tapped Jared on his arm to get his attention and then put a finger on her temple as she looked at the Easterner. The hunter followed her gaze and saw a long utcha hanging from the man’s head wrap. The string held at least half a dozen rubies. Whoever this man was, he was important to his sulta.
Olivia made some obsequious gestures, and Jared heard the word for apologize and jai-jin several times. Eventually, the man huffed a few times and then left, but not before he glared murderously at the hunter first.
“What was that about?” Jared asked as Olivia sat down. He never took his eye from the retreating man until the Easterner finally made his way out of the tavern. Three similarly garbed men followed him out.
“He didn’t like your dog,” Talas supplied. “But he couldn’t decide which smelled worse, you or Jugger.”
“That’s not exactly what he said,” Olivia responded. “It was more like… wait a minute!” she exclaimed as she looked at Talas for the first time in what seemed like hours. “You remember the language?” The rest of the table stared at the priest as well.
“I didn’t forget everything since I was here last,” Talas supplied, a tone of melancholy in his voice. “And I practiced my Eastern tongue from time to time when the opportunity presented itself. In my former line of work, you run into all sorts of people. Some of them are from the Eastern Kingdoms… pardon me, Eastern Kingdom.”
Silenced settled uncomfortably around the table, the other Illyanders uncertain as to how, or if, to contribute to the conversation between Olivia and her estranged husband.
“Wait,” Jared said, his mind finally catching up to what Talas had said earlier. “Did he insult Jugger?” the hunter said in mock indignation. For his part the large mastiff just harrumphed loudly and leaned back into Jared’s hand. The hunter returned to scratching the dog’s head.
The people around the table gave a half-hearted chuckle at the woodsman’s jest, releasing the tension that the near encounter with the Eastern man had conjured up. Everyone sat a little more relaxed.
“I know you’ve had a long journey,” Olivia said, an odd tone to her voice that Jared couldn’t identify. “Perhaps it would be best to head to our rooms, get some rest, and hopefully avoid any more… incidents.” The scout was making a point of not looking at Talas as she spoke. Jared was certain everyone else around the table noticed as well.
“I agree,” the hunter replied, standing up. Jugger rose also, his tail wagging. Jared watched as Sasha retrieved Gabriel from Iluak, trying to juggle the infant, his satchel of changing rags and her shield all at the same time. The woodsman hurried around the table, picking up Sasha’s shield and slipping the canvas bag from her shoulder. Sasha hesitated for a moment, but then allowed him to carry her other items, so that she could concentrate on Gabriel. Jugger insinuated his considerable bulk in between the couple and the dog looked up, his large tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. Sasha and Jared looked down at the canine and then at Gabriel, who was beginning to stir. A warm smile passed between the hunter and the swordswoman. Jared knew they had a lot to discuss, but he saw that a door had reopened between them. It was a start.
Jared looked at the rest of their companions, and with the exception of Olivia, they all wore the same expression, a small smile and a look of relief. The hunter hadn’t considered how the continuing animosity between Sasha and him had affected the rest of them. However, now that he thought about it, Jared almost kicked himself. Of course it must have been difficult for them, to be trapped on a ship for so long as he and Sasha bickered back and forth on a daily basis, when they were even talking to one another at all.
“How many rooms do we have?” Katya asked, breaking the short silence. The sorceress, Iluak and Talas were all rising from their chairs.
“Three,” Olivia replied, standing as well. The scout hesitated a moment as she looked around at the other Illyanders. Her eyes widened a little as she did a quick tally in her head.
“Perfect,” Katya said, before Olivia could speak. “Sasha, Jared and Gabriel can take one. Iluak and I can take another.” Talas’ mind finally caught up to what was happening, but the Master Sorceress hastily continued before anyone could object. “Talas and Olivia can take the third. I am sure they have a lot of catching up to do and wouldn’t want to keep the rest of us awake with their talking.” Jared detected a very slight inflection on the last word and the subtle hint of a grin on Katya’s lips.
“Now wait just one moment,” Talas said to Katya, his tone sounding very much like a father talking to his child.
Katya was not a child anymore though. These last few years, what she had lost, and the responsibilities that had been heaped upon her young shoulders had seen to that. When she spoke next, Jared heard the voice of the Administrator of The Snowhaven Sorcerer School. “I think it would be best for all concerned if the two of you,” her look encompassed both Talas and Olivia, “were to work out whatever difficulties you think might arise in the coming weeks as swiftly as possible. We are all going to need to rely on each other greatly, and, at the risk of sounding like I am using hyperbole, our lives could very well depend on it.”
Talas looked like he was going to continue his objection, but Olivia’s hand on his arm silenced the priest. He looked down at where her hand touched him, a riot of emotions fighting for purchase on his weathered face. Olivia quickly withdrew her hand, looking down at the table. Her face mirrored Talas’.
“She is right,” the scout said quietly. She cleared her throat, speaking her next words with more strength. “We have a great deal to discuss, and I doubt the Aishe Desert is going to give us a lot of time or opportunity.” Olivia raised her eyes once again to look at Talas. There was a deep and quiet strength in the woman’s gaze that Jared couldn’t help but admire. Again, the hunter was reminded of how much time had been lost between Talas and his wife, if that’s what she still was. Before he realized he had done it, Jared had snaked his arm around Sasha’s waist and pulled her closer. The swordswoman did not object.
“Great,” Katya said, her tone resolute. “We’ll see you at breakfast then.” The raven-haired woman headed towards the stairs to the inn’s second floor. Iluak hesitated for a moment, and then Jared saw a sudden realization dawn on the shape shifter’s face. A wry grin curved his lips as he moved hurriedly to catch up to Katya.
Jared and Sasha shared a knowing look. “Listen,” Jared began. “I need to….”
The red-haired swordswoman cut him off. “I know,” she said. “Me too. But let’s talk in our room.” Sasha looked around the crowded tavern. “This isn’t
the place. Besides,” she said, bouncing their child in her arms. “Gabriel needs to eat.”
Jared looked at Talas, who nodded approvingly. Despite his own turmoil, the priest was still clearly concerned for the younger couple. The woodsman couldn’t help but be amazed at the older man’s selflessness. The priest was a credit to the green tabard that he wore. I hope when I reach that age, I can be half as noble as he is, Jared thought to himself. The hunter considered for a moment the obstacles that lay before them in the Eastern Kingdom and whatever else Salamasca had up her icy sleeve. Great Mother willing, I’ll actually reach that age.
Jared shook his head, trying to banish such thoughts, at least for a little while. He looked at Sasha and his son and couldn’t help but smile at the amazing things that had come into his life over the past few years. For tonight, at the very least, he would do his best to show his appreciation for those blessings and forget that one of them would soon be ripped away.
Chapter 6
Salamasca entered the Tepey's personal tent, her stride slow and confident even as she ducked under the tent flap that one of her Shadow Walkers held open for her. She wore a thin black cloak made of a light gauzy material over her pale shoulders. The hood was pulled low, just above her eyes. Planting her staff on the piled rug floor, she came to a stop and leaned on one well-shaped hip, showing a generous amount of thigh.
Even the sorceress' usual iron countenance was mildly disturbed at the sight before her. On one side of the enclosure, furnished only with rugs and large richly-colored pillows was Roane, her former regent, bent over like an animal feasting on a fresh carcass. The difference was that the body before her was a man. His head wrap lay by his gored head, its heavily-gemmed strand of beads glittering in the lamplight. Salamasca's stomach churned involuntarily at the popping sound of bone being crunched as it was devoured along with the flesh. On the other side of the tent, an adolescent male knelt beside a woman, who was sobbing into the blanket of a swaddled baby. A girl-child had her face buried in the boy's chest. The young man's eyes were cautiously watching everything, his utcha broken with its beads strewn near his father’s. His gaze had switched from Roane to Salamasca when she had entered. Brave as his outer appearance portrayed, it was just a show for his family; his eyes were wide with terror.