Steel And Sorrow (Book 2)

by Joshua P. Simon

  Nachun sighed heavily. “And we will figure it out. But first you need your rest. You can’t be worked up like this when I look into your mind. It will increase any risks associated with the spell.” He extended his hand and helped Tobin to his feet.

  Tobin did feel tired. Then again, he had felt tired for so long, he wasn’t sure how it would feel to be rested. Plus, if he went to his room, the nightmares would find him. Still, he nodded. “Alright. Tomorrow.”

  * * *

  By the time Nareash reached the palace he had managed to forget most of his encounter with Tobin. The voyage home had done little to improve the demeanor of the man he had learned to call his friend. Nareash wondered if he would ever feel confident calling Tobin that in the future. He cast aside the last of his worries as he entered his secluded room. A spell like teleportation needed his complete focus.

  Three shamans sat on the floor with their eyes closed. Fresh markings decorated the floor. “I assume everything is ready?”

  “Yes, Nachun. We made the adjustments as you specified,” said one.

  Nareash looked over their work. “You did well.”

  They opened their eyes at that and bowed at the rare praise.

  “Let’s begin.”

  * * *

  Nareash opened his eyes to the sound of a woman screaming. Despite his rolling stomach, he instinctively turned toward the piercing yell as a woman quickly dove under the bedcovers to hide her nakedness. The man under her fumbled by his bedside for a sword and climbed out of bed.

  “Guards!” the man called out and took a step forward. “Who are you and how did you get in here?”

  The man moved into the moonlight coming in from an open window and Nareash chuckled as everything made sense.

  “You!” Hezen waved his sword. “What do you think you’re doing in my private bedchamber?”

  Nareash bowed in a mocking manner. “I sincerely apologize. An honest mistake though one that could have turned out much worse. I tried to arrive in your courtyard, but it appears I miscalculated.” A small tightening of his gut reminded him how ugly things could have been.

  Tobin distracted me more than I thought.

  “Do you have any idea what time it is?” asked Hezen in frustration.

  “Yes. It was the first chance I had to check on the progress here.” Nareash looked over Hezen’s shoulder to the woman who peeked over the covers pulled up to her neck. He smiled. “You have good taste.” He cleared his throat and gestured toward the man’s naked form. “Do you mind?”

  “You’re in my bedroom uninvited. I’ll stay as I please.”

  Nareash shrugged.

  A loud knock sounded and a voice behind the door called out. “Emperor! Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine!”

  “How do we know you aren’t being coerced?” the voice asked.

  “I said I’m fine. Leave! And next time get here sooner. I’d be dead by now if I was in any real danger.” Hezen lowered his sword and rubbed his temple with his free hand.

  Nareash bowed. “I’ll be on my way.”

  Hezen looked up. “You barge in here, interrupt me, and then just leave? I thought you wanted to discuss your plans.”

  “Well, as I said, my arrival here was a mistake. I need to speak with Guwan and Colan.”

  “And what about me?”

  “Is there something you need?”

  “Is there something I need?” asked Hezen, raising his voice. “I’m the one communicating with the other territories!”

  “Are you having trouble convincing them to join you?”

  “No. Not once they learn what they can gain from the effort.”

  “Then I have nothing to discuss with you that can’t wait until a more opportune time.” Nareash inclined his head toward the bed. He patted the man on his shoulder in a condescending manner as he brushed by him on his way toward the door. “Keep up the good work.”

  “Wait, I . . .”

  Nareash closed the door behind him and quickly walked down the hallway until reaching a set of stairs. He slipped by a couple of guardsmen on the lower level and rounded a corner. He wrapped his knuckles against a wood door. The sound carried throughout the corridor.

  The door flung open and a half-dressed Kifzo stood with sword drawn.

  Guwan’s eyes widened. “You’re late.”

  Nareash shrugged. “Yes, well, new developments in Hesh delayed my return to Juanoq. And I’ve told you before I couldn’t teleport while on the water and moving.” He raised an eyebrow at the sword.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you at this time of night.”

  “Obviously.” Nareash chuckled. “Would an attacker really announce themselves with a knock?”

  Guwan lowered the sword and gestured for Nareash to come inside. “I wouldn’t put it past them. What’s going on in Hesh?”

  “We can discuss that later. I take it you’ve had trouble?”

  Guwan lit a small lamp, illuminating the simple room. A large, plush bed, more than twice as large as an average sized one, rested against a wall. Nareash smiled, knowing that out of everything the Kifzo could have, the only pleasure he allowed himself was a better place to rest.

  “Not recently,” said Guwan. “Colan routed out three poisoners and killed two assassins. I took down four assassins myself. The last three we openly tortured for days where everyone could see. Since then, no one’s been bold enough to try again.”

  “Good. Tell me how things are progressing with my army.”

  “We’re at one hundred and twenty thousand strong. Hezen expects that number to double soon.”

  “Marvelous. I don’t know if there has ever been a host that size in the history of the world.”

  “I know I’ve never seen anything like it.” He paused. “I’ll admit controlling such a force has been . . . daunting.”

  “Of course it has.”

  “I need more time. There are a few bright spots here and there, tribes who are more skilled than others, but generally speaking, the men are undisciplined and their skill would pale in comparison with that of a ten-year-old Kifzo.”

  “Of course they would. A Kifzo is better trained than any soldier I’ve ever come across. However, I’m not interested in a quarter million Kifzo. Training and maintaining such a force would take too long and cost too much. I need you to instill in them what you can, and learn what each group’s strengths and weaknesses are so we can deploy them properly when the time comes.”

  Guwan nodded. “One thing is certain, even with our numbers, a siege will not be easy. I’ve studied the material you left behind about The High Pass. It’s brilliant in its ugliness. Three curtain walls with killing grounds separating each one. Towers staggered throughout and mountains on the sides so that flanking is next to impossible. And the sorcery used to build it protects it from other spells.”

  “Yes. Now you know why I need a force so willing to throw themselves against the blasted thing. We’ll need to wear down the defenders.”

  They spoke for another hour, going over strategy, concerns, and the happenings of Hesh before a yawn jarred Nareash. “It sounds as though you have everything under control. I’ll let you get back to sleep. I still need to speak with Colan before leaving.”

  “So you’re not staying?”

  “No. This is my last visit. The next time I come will be by ship.” He grinned. “And I won’t be alone.”

  * * *

  Nareash knocked softly on Colan’s door. He tried three more times, each attempt growing louder than the last, until a sleepy-eyed shaman stood before him. Colan quickly composed himself and managed an awkward bow.

  “Please come in, Master.”

  Nareash stepped inside. “I’m disappointed, Colan. Guwan was far more alert than you. After what he told me about the failed attempts on each of your lives I would have thought you’d be better prepared when answering your door.”

  Colan’s eyes widened as if suddenly remembering something. “
I have wards in place . . . .”

  “Which I disabled easily.”

  “No one here could have done the same, Master.”

  “That’s no reason to grow overconfident.”

  He lowered his gaze. “Yes, Master.”

  “It seems that you and Guwan are getting along.”

  Colan shrugged. “We have our differences, but we understand the common goal. Besides, he’s changed a lot since Quarnoq. He sees the bigger picture.”

  “And have you?”

  “I believe so. I’ve been working diligently on the spells you taught me. I try to push myself more each day.”

  “Good. Show me.”

  “Now?”

  “Now.”

  “What would you like to see?”

  “Surprise me.”

  The shaman stood, cleared his throat and Nareash watched the man center himself more easily than before. At first Nareash wondered if Colan had done anything at all, but then he felt a small bite on his arm and then another. The room began filling with mosquitoes. Nareash spoke a quick chant to repel the bothersome creatures from latching onto him.

  Colan opened his eyes, smiled at his accomplishment and waited.

  “You’ve improved. Control of a life form, especially a group of insects takes a great deal of concentration and focus. It isn’t as flashy as a ball of fire, but malaria will weaken an army more than a brush fire ever will.”

  “Thank you, Master. Your praise is an honor.”

  Nareash’s tone lowered. “I hope you haven’t instructed anyone else in these things.”

  Colan quickly shook his head. “No, of course not. I’ve been working with their mages, according to your orders.”

  “Good.”

  * * *

  The previous few months had been some of the happiest in Jober’s life. Juanoq’s army had been away fighting and the city practically ran itself. He hated to admit it but the changes Tobin had instituted to the city’s leadership were ingenious.

  With Tobin and the army away, Lucia had all but stopped talking about the warleader and contented herself with living life. She and his wife, Hielle, spent a great deal of time together that allowed him to see his family more. Lucia had become so much a part of his family that he no longer felt like her bodyguard. He would never say as much to anyone out of fear of what others would think, but he loved her as a sister.

  At times, those feelings also caused him an increased amount of grief when he spotted Lucia staring out into the night or going through Kaz’s old things. Even after all this time, she still held out hope that her husband would return to her one day. He tried to dissuade her thoughts once and swore never to do it again after he saw how much his words had pained her.

  He wished he could ease her mind, but short of telling her the truth, he could think of no way to do so.

  “Are you almost ready?” Hielle called out from behind their door.

  Jober shook away his thoughts. “Nearly.”

  “Well, hurry up. Lucia is waiting.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  * * *

  “Thank you again for coming with me. I know I had told you that I’d give you the day off, but I heard about this new shipment of fabric that arrived from Nubinya and I had to have it,” said Lucia. A brightness shined in her voice that lifted Jober’s spirits.

  Jober carried an arm full of fabric rolls as they entered the palace. “It’s no trouble at all.”

  She smiled and whispered. “Don’t tell Hielle, but I’m planning to make her a new gown.”

  Jober’s eyes widened. “But it’s so expensive and you’ve already given us so much . . . .”

  “There’s no such thing as giving too much to those you care about.”

  They turned a corner and Jober slammed into a wall that staggered him. The wall stared at him with an incredulous look. Tobin’s eyes looked full of venom.

  “Tobin! I heard you had returned last night, but didn’t expect to see you today.” Lucia threw her arms around the warrior’s thick neck and Jober watched Tobin’s anger melt away. Tobin seemed to forget about Jober as he pulled Lucia in tight and closed his eyes.

  Anger gripped Jober and he took a step forward, ready to rip Lucia away, when she started laughing.

  “Tobin, not so hard. I didn’t think you’d miss me so.”

  They separated.

  Tobin sighed. “It’s just good to see you. The last few months have been trying.”

  The admission surprised Jober.

  Lucia rested a hand on Tobin’s arm. “I heard rumors. I don’t presume to understand anything, but I’m sorry about everything, especially Odala.”

  Tobin’s face darkened and he wrenched his arm away. Jober tensed.

  Tobin scowled. “I bet you are. If I recall, you never did like her. I can imagine how happy you must be now.”

  “No. I didn’t mean . . .” started Lucia.

  Tobin brushed by her and pushed Jober out of his way and into a wall.

  “No one ever means to do anything,” Tobin muttered under his breath.

  Jober and Lucia stood in the hallway for a moment as Lucia watched Tobin disappear around a corner. She sighed and shook her head.

  “Are you alright?” asked Jober.

  “I’m not the one to be worried about. Come, let’s get this back to my room.”

  * * *

  “You’ve been talking to my Kifzo.”

  Nareash had barely opened the door when Tobin’s first words hit him. The warrior stood with his back against the window, hands clasped behind his back in a pose that reminded Nareash of the father Tobin had sought approval from for so long. He closed the door.

  “So you’ve been spying on me. When did that start?”

  “When you gave me a reason to,” Tobin turned around. “Talking to my Kifzo. It has to do with these goals of yours, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “You aren’t from the Red Mountain Clan, are you?”

  “No. I’m not,” said Nareash, tired of the lies.

  “Where are you from?” The steady calmness in Tobin’s voice unsettled Nareash.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Probably not. What’s one more lie atop the hundreds of others you’ve uttered.”

  “When did you figure it out?” asked Nareash, feeling surprisingly guilty.

  Tobin shrugged and turned back to the window. “I think I always suspected something wasn’t right about your story, but I was too blind by the friendship I thought we had. Your reaction to this whole campaign, conquering the Red Mountain Clan, and even killing Charu, the man you claimed was your enemy, confirmed my assumptions. Your mind has been elsewhere for too long.” He paused. “So what do you need with my army?”

  “I need them to help me conquer the land of my birth. It’s far from Hesh.”

  “Is that why you really needed your ships? To transport them.”

  “Yes.”

  Tobin chuckled. “Was our friendship anything other than a matter of convenience for you? Or was it all lies?”

  “Much of what I said was true. I’ve tried to look out for your best interests when I could.”

  “As long as they didn’t conflict with yours, you mean?”

  Nareash said nothing.

  “And if I told you that you couldn’t have my men? Would our friendship mean anything to you then?”

  Nareash’s voice darkened. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve killed friends who stood in my way. But I don’t want it to come to that. Besides, why would you care? I don’t plan on taking your entire army. You’ll still have several thousand here and Walor is commanding the main body in the Red Mountain Clan territory. All of Hesh is basically yours.” He paused. “I still want to help you before I leave.”

  “Why should I trust you to look at my mind after your admission?”

  “What are your other options?”

  Tobin blew out a deep breath. “I have none. The list of people I can rely on seem
s to dwindle every day.” His eyes looked at Nareash and quickly turned away. “If I can’t rely on even myself then I have no chance to hold onto what I have. I need to know what’s going on with me.” He moved from the window and sat in a nearby chair. “I’m ready.”

  Nareash walked over and stood behind Tobin. He placed his hands on the warrior’s head. Since Nareash’s time with the scepter, he had used mind control sparingly, only pushing someone in the direction he needed them to go. He had used the method several times on Bazraki to make him appear more incompetent to Tobin and those around him. However, Nareash had never used mind control on Tobin.

  I never needed to.

  Nareash cleared his thoughts and slowly began examining Tobin’s brain, looking for signs of damage. He finished once and repeated the process, reaching the same conclusion. He ran through everything one more time, recalling every detail from the texts he read about the mind in the dark corners of Estul Island’s library.

  Tobin’s brain worked as it should.

  What does that mean? Maybe something happened to Tobin in his youth that changed him into the man I knew when I met him. That would explain why he couldn’t recall certain memories.

  When Soyjid began toying with his mind, he must have removed the block holding the tendencies of his youth at bay.

  Soyjid inadvertently fixed him! The lack of mercy, the brutality of enforcing his rule, the lust for blood and war, a desire to inflict punishment. That is who he really is. One Above, Tobin is his father’s son.

  Nareash frowned.

  “Is it that bad?” asked Tobin.

  “Hmm?” Nareash stared dumbly at the wall, thinking on the implications of his discovery.

  “You haven’t said a word or moved in some time. It must be worse than you thought?”

  What do I say? Tell him the truth when he wants to believe he’s someone better than who he is now.

  Perhaps that’s it. He’s acting this way because he thinks he should. I could try to reinstitute the block, but if I failed, it could make things worse.

  Nareash showed one last act of kindness to the man he had once called his friend. He lied. “No. It wasn’t bad at all.”

  “Wasn’t?”

  “Yes, I already fixed it.”

  Tobin wheeled around. “You did? But I didn’t feel a thing.”