Colbey glanced at Sterrane, as always amazed by the way one so childlike and naive awake could seem still more innocent asleep. “That’s not completely fair. I understand the importance of Sterrane at least as clearly as you do.”
“Then why did you let him come at all?”
Colbey shook his head. “I didn’t let him come. You were there. He wouldn’t let me, you, or anyone stand in his way.”
“You could have stopped him.”
“How?”
“You’re Renshai. And from what I’ve seen and heard, a damned fine swordsman.”
“Yes, I suppose killing Sterrane would have stopped him. But wouldn’t that have defeated the original purpose?”
Mar Lon crouched, exasperated. “You could have convinced him to stay. In a very convincing manner.”
“Ah.” Colbey finally caught a clear grasp of Mar Lon’s point. “I could have convinced him, but I would have become renegade, with every army of the Westlands at my heels.” He rose. “The Renshai have enough enemies without turning friends against us, too. I worked long and hard to turn prejudice into friendship, to start to build a new life and meaning for the Renshai. Don’t expect me to sacrifice my people to save one king’s bodyguard some of the trouble of performing his duties.”
Mar Lon pursed his lips, silent for some time. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m just worried. If Shadimar’s really gone renegade, there’s no telling what we’re up against. And you know how trusting the king is. Shadimar raised him. He’s like Sterrane’s father.”
Colbey took some encouragement from Mar Lon’s comment. “So now you believe Shadimar’s the villain instead of me?”
Mar Lon met Colbey’s gaze directly, with clear hazel eyes. “I still think it’s your handling of chaos that’s at fault. But Shadimar does seem to have become most affected by it.”
“Neutral to the core.” Colbey smiled. “As it should be.” He glanced through the huddled branches. The conversation finished, at least to his mind, he shifted to more pressing matters. “Get some food together. I’ll wake the others. The longer we sit, the more likely the Wizards will find us at a disadvantage.”
Mar Lon set to work.
CHAPTER 31
Parlay on the Fields of Wrath
Impatient, Shadimar paced, smashing a brown slash through the otherwise grassy meadow. Back supported by the oak from which they had suspended Tannin, Carcophan watched his colleague fidget, gaze tracking the Eastern Wizard’s to and fro course. Shadimar kept the staff clenched in his right hand, and its constant poke and retreat had left a periphery of rat-sized holes surrounding the pathway his repetitive tread had worn. Dh’arlo’mé stood with his weight balanced, clasping his hands into various positions, fingers flicking red-blond hair from his face or readjusting his collar at intervals, though neither needed tending. Clearly, his mistress’ absence unnerved him.
The Renshai stood or sat as the mood pleased them, exchanging whispered conversation that Shadimar had no interest in hearing. Should the Renshai try to attack or to run, they would find themselves stopped short by the magical barrier the Cardinal Wizards had bonded to build. Even if the prisoners charged the wall of sorcery in a moment of weakness, before the Wizards thought to reinforce it, even should they somehow find a hole in the chaos of the spell, they would kick and bite until they fell dead of exhaustion. The Wizards’ personal protection spells would thwart their attacks, even if they somehow managed to capture a sword from Carcophan or Dh’arlo’mé.
A crack appeared in the fabric of the world, its edges shimmering through the rainbow’s spectrum. Shadimar stopped, watching the display in fascination, though its power seemed small compared with the combined forces that had raged through many of their recent spells. Returned from the world of men, Trilless stepped through. The rift sealed shut behind her, chaos-colors fading into normal background, fuzzy, gray vibration lingering long after the obvious magic had disappeared.
Dh’arlo’mé walked to her side, the speed of his movement mocking the dignity of his previous stance. Carcophan studied her with mild curiosity. Shadimar stretched with feigned nonchalance, placing both hands on top of his staff and meeting her gaze directly.
“People came to the Renshai cottages,” she said.
“Colbey?” Shadimar asked hopefully.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I found five horses and more than one type of footprint. If he came, he did not do so alone. And he did not leave the staff.”
Shadimar tightened his grip on his own staff, uncertain what to make of Trilless’ findings. Until now, their occasional forays to the cottages had revealed no sign of visitors. It made sense for Colbey to come, yet not to leave without some message for the Wizards: cooperative or otherwise. “What type of horses?”
Trilless made a stiff-fingered gesture to indicate limited knowledge in this area. “Good ones. Of the type rich men might own or breeders might use to show potential buyers the best of their stock.”
Shadimar made a thoughtful noise, annoyed that the horses appeared during Trilless’ time to check for Colbey’s compliance.
Trilless continued, “I found a white horse among them, pretty enough to belong to the Knights of Erythane, though it carried none of the braids, symbols, and trappings.”
“Frost Reaver?” Shadimar scowled. “Impossible. Then Colbey can’t be among them.”
“Or it’s another white horse.” Carcophan supplied his first words of the conversation, his composure mocking Shadimar’s distress.
Keeping his hands high on the staff, Shadimar drew to his full height. “I have to go. I might be able to talk to the horses.”
“Too dangerous.” Trilless’ lower lip went thin and blanched. “We’ve cast too much magic in that area already. What good to find Colbey there if we can’t use spells against him? What use to take the Staff of Chaos from him when we’ve drawn so much into the world that the Ragnarok occurs anyway? Soon enough, we’ll have to replenish our own protections and their bindings.” She gestured toward the Renshai. “The more chaos we call, the stronger Colbey becomes.”
Carcophan sighed, obviously annoyed by the need to take his opposite’s side. “Horses don’t understand abstractions and strategy. What could they tell you besides useless information about their riders?” He simulated an animal voice; but, more accustomed to addressing reptiles and their kith it sound higher-pitched, sibilant, and more sloshy than any beast Shadimar knew. “The heavy two-legs. The loud one who doesn’t share his apples.”
Shadimar grew insistent, scarcely daring to believe his companions could not see the usefulness of discussing the matter with the horses. “They could tell us if Colbey’s come.”
Carcophan returned to his normal tone. “What difference if he has or hasn’t? Did you expect Colbey simply to bring the staff and leave? He’ll look for the Renshai first. When he can’t find them, he’ll have no choice but to bargain. We may have to confront him once, but it won’t last long. He’s playing chess, a single pawn against three queens and a pile of captured pieces. If he harms one of us, he loses his tribe; but we can kill him with impunity.” Carcophan smiled, his emotions well-hidden. “Now, Shadimar, get some rest before your pacing turns these fields into a canyon.”
Shadimar sat, though his mind still worried the problem. And the staff that he knew contained the knowledge of the universe supported his ideas.
* * *
Colbey slipped silently through the second growth trees and underbrush, guided toward the Fields of Wrath by Arduwyn’s occasional touch. The archer’s injured leg slowed their progress to a crawl, and Khitajrah kept several paces behind, her stumbling gait a result of the pain-masking herbs. Under other circumstances, Colbey would have left both of his wounded companions behind for the much-needed sleep their healing bodies craved. Yet here, it seemed folly to break into couples or leave anyone alone. Together, they stood a chance against the Cardinal Wizards. Separated, they would fall prey, one by one, to magic.
Colbey
halted for what felt like the thousandth time to give Arduwyn a chance to catch up. At the camp, it had seemed natural to split their party in half; it made spying and searching more complete. In trios, they could stand more united against the Wizards, at least until the others arrived. He had selected Arduwyn and Khitajrah as his companions, keeping the next strongest warrior and the hardiest of the archers with the king at the expense of weakening his own forces. He hoped that dividing forces would not work against them.
The aristiri circled far overhead, and Colbey saw only occasional glimpses of it between the branches.
As if on cue, Arduwyn pulled up beside Colbey, gaze tracing a flash of scarlet in the sky. “I think she’s trying to tell us we’re nearing the clearing. And the Wizards are there.”
Colbey followed the hunter’s stare, but the aristiri had flown from sight. He saw only patches of blue sky, striped with boughs and wind-swaying leaves. “How can you tell that?”
“Her spirals have tightened. She’s narrowing in on prey.”
Colbey accepted the description without comment, uncertain whether to consider the Wizards the predator or the quarry. He suspected some of the hawk’s antics were meant to reveal their approach and positioning to Mar Lon, Sterrane, and Sylva; and he hoped the girl could read the flight patterns as well as her father.
“Do you want me to scout ahead?” Arduwyn whispered.
“No.” Colbey listened for the sounds of Khitajrah’s approach, but she had gone still as well, keeping her distance so that her lumbering would not give them away. “We’re all quiet. We stay together. Will you be all right?”
Arduwyn nodded vigorously, though his pain reached Colbey in aching waves set off by every movement. Khitajrah’s muffled agony drifted to him as well, masked by the herbs to a deep, dull throb. If it came to war, Colbey knew he could rely only on his own skill; and that thought made him frown. Back in Béarn when the message had come, he had first considered facing the Cardinal Wizards alone. Now, with friends’ lives at stake and dragging the injured to a meeting that might prove fatal, Colbey doubted the decision he had made in the king’s feasting room. It might have been better for all if he had left the others behind.
Even as the thought arose, Colbey recognized the fallacy. Without Arduwyn, he would never have discovered the gate. Had Khitajrah not chosen to walk through it, Colbey might have dismissed Arduwyn’s finding; or he might have entered himself and fallen victim to Sylva’s bow. Colbey suspected the appearance of Arduwyn and himself had interrupted the completion of Sylva’s attack. If they had come later, Arduwyn’s daughter probably would have finished Khitajrah. Sterrane’s simple insight kept him approaching problems at the practical level, and the king might find the words to convince Shadimar where Colbey failed. If it came to war, Colbey felt certain he would appreciate Mar Lon’s sword.
“Let’s go.” Colbey crept forward, Arduwyn keeping pace at his side. The favoring of one leg made the hunter’s movements unnatural, and he instinctively slowed them to smooth his gait. Even injured, he moved in silence.
Shortly, the trees gave way to a grassy meadow sprinkled with wildflowers and trampled in patches where Renshai habitually practiced swordplay. Colbey’s eyes registered these details, even as his gaze riveted on the figures in the clearing. Shadimar and Carcophan stood face to face in opposition. Their voices came to Colbey as rumbles, punctuated by brisk gestures of arms, heads, and hands. Occasionally, a shouted word pierced the air, its meaning lost to the obscurity of their discussion. Seemingly oblivious, Trilless sat with her back propped against a tree, chatting more softly with a figure Colbey did not recognize. Loose, red-blond hair draped the stranger’s back, the locks speckled with red highlights from the sun. He wore a flaccid-fitting robe and cloak that could not quite hide the odd musculature and willowiness that Colbey now associated with elves. Beyond the Cardinal Wizards, the Renshai milled without obvious concern or threat. Apparently, they knew no strong thoughts, pain, or pressure, because not a single emotion wafted from any of them.
Before Colbey could consider his next course of action, Carcophan whirled to stare into the opposite side of the forest. “Who’s here? Show yourselves!”
Shadimar spun, suddenly alert. Trilless rose cautiously, and Colbey caught a glimpse of her companion’s face. The high, sharp cheekbones and canted eyes clinched his race. The Renshai tribe, too, abruptly became interested, their eyes scanning the clearing.
Colbey touched Arduwyn’s arm to indicate he should remain in place. For now, Carcophan seemed more interested in their companions at the other end of the clearing. The Wizards held no grudge against Sterrane, and Colbey doubted the king, Sylva, and Mar Lon faced much danger. However, the Wizards’ concentration on those three would leave Colbey free to do whatever the situation demanded. He studied the other Renshai, divining their emotional state from movement only. The child seemed irritable, bored with remaining in one place too long. Tannin moved with a stiffness that indicated injury. Tarah, too, lacked her usual grace, though her walk did not betray pain as Tannin’s did. Modrey, Mitrian, and Rache seemed normal, aside from a tendency to pick at a nonexistent sheath or sword belt.
Carcophan’s voice rang out. “I said, show yourselves! You have until I count to four, then I’ll burn down the forest and you with it.”
Another moment passed in silence, except for a sudden surge of mental activity. Colbey could tell that the Wizards were sending messages furiously, but he did not waste energy trying to read them. In a moment, he might need each modicum of physical strength, every lethal trick at his disposal.
“Not hurt.” As Colbey watched, Sterrane stepped from the forest, Sylva behind and Mar Lon a step in front of him.
The Wizards’ surprise seemed to blend into one massive shock. Colbey felt the surge, though the Cardinal Wizards feigned composure with ease. Shadimar edged toward the king and his entourage, obviously intending to question their presence. Before he could speak, Carcophan whirled, gaze tracing the forest edge. “There’re three more out there. Show yourselves or I carry out my threat.”
Arduwyn gripped Colbey’s sleeve.
“And I won’t spare your companions,” Carcophan added with deliberate cruelty.
Colbey shook off Arduwyn’s hold and strode into the clearing. “Let them go. All of them. It’s me you want.”
As one, the Cardinal Wizards and the elf spun toward Colbey. The mental communication became a roar, ideas rebounding among the three Wizards. They spoke in a raucous chorus, devoid of harmony, their audible words as incalculable as their shared considerations. White streamers filled the clearing, tangled like webs about the Wizards and the captured Renshai.
Colbey’s fists gripped his sword hilts, and he tensed to attack. Yet, despite the activity in the air around him, he sensed no malice or directed threat. Even as the strands gained color, flashing through a wild, patternless spectrum that encompassed every hue, he sensed concern in their magic rather than menace.
The staff confirmed the thought with one of its own. *Defensive magics. Shields and barricades, I’d guess.*
Shields and barricades. Colbey could not hide his scorn. He remained in place, maintaining the somber fearlessness that once characterized all of the Cardinal Wizards. An odor like sulfur and the crisp electric aftereffect of lightning burned Colbey’s nostrils. Khitajrah had slipped up beside him. His friends seemed uncertain but interested, completely unaware of the grandeur of the magic that Colbey experienced. Clearly, only he and the other Wizards could see the color and crackling glory in the workings of magic, the agony of its stench, and the tingle that built in its wake, vibrations that prickled Colbey’s skin like tiny bee stings.
Colbey remained in place, unperturbed, hoping to rattle the Wizards with his composure alone. “One more spell, and Harval dances through your throats.” He patted the hilt to remind them he carried one of the few weapons that could cause their downfall.
Shadimar’s nostrils flared. Otherwise, the Wizards showed
no sign of the boil of emotions Colbey sensed within them. Their binding to create spells had made them nearly inseparable to his mind gift.
Shadimar looked at Sterrane. “Sterrane, my fair child. Good to see you again. I hope Béarn is well. How did you come here?”
Colbey drew breath, knowing his covering response would come too late. In his guileless way, Sterrane would surely tell all to his mentor.
Sterrane pouted. Even across the clearing, Colbey could see the king’s lower lip jut and swell. “Béarn not well. You take friends capture.”
Shadimar’s lips pursed, and his eyes narrowed like a father about to lecture a disobedient child. “Sterrane, you know me well enough to trust me. Have you ever seen me do anything outside the best interests of the Westlands? Do these look like prisoners to you?” He inclined his head toward the Renshai, all of whom now stood in a row watching the proceedings. The pattern of their chosen stances told Colbey that some unseen barrier blocked their path; and, though their lips moved in conversational patterns, he could not hear even a dull murmur of their exchanges.
“You always work for West,” Sterrane admitted. His mouth remained in its downward bow, lower lip bulging. “Before. Why take Renshai?”
Shadimar rolled a careful look at the Renshai tribe before answering. He measured his words, a sure sign that they could hear him. “It was the only way, Sterrane. Colbey’s dangerous, a pawn of chaos. Whatever he told you, beware. He plans to destroy the world. I did only what I felt I had to do to stop him. You understand.”
Colbey kept his mouth shut. Protestation now would only make Shadimar’s point seem valid. The other Wizards remained silent also, content to let Shadimar represent them, at least until their purposes clashed.
Sterrane’s pout dissolved, his lip tightening back to normal size. His dark eyes went wide; but he assumed no expression Colbey could read, torn between his mentor and a companion he trusted implicitly. “Colbey not chaos. Not.” Sterrane struggled to put the concept into words he could scarcely manipulate for normal conversation. “If was chaos, not loyal to Renshai. Not come save them.”
Child of Thunder (Renshai Trilogy) Page 59