Forgotten

by Lyn Lowe

  Twenty-Nine

  Kaie reached out and gently removed the gag from between Peren’s teeth. He could see the bruising from where the soldiers held her. She’d fought hard. No one was around. The soldiers set her in a corner of the warehouse far away from any curious eyes. No one kept watch, on the condition that she remained bound and gagged until it was decided that her reaction wasn’t out of loyalty to Urazin. Vaughan spent every moment since sitting at her side, but Kaie managed to convince the other man to give them a few moments alone.

  “Want to tell me what you’re doing?”

  Her eyes were huge, even bigger than normal. And, for the first time, they seemed blind. “You have to stop this! You have to protect the Lady! Please, please! Don’t let them do this! You can’t!”

  “I have to,” he insisted gently. Her panic was just as fresh as when they took Autumnsong. “She’s the way I’ll get the Huduku to support us. Without them, we’ll never survive.”

  Peren blinked, and seemed to come back to herself a bit. The crazed look was still clinging, but there was a measure of recognition in her eyes as well. “Kaie, you don’t understand what you’re doing!”

  “Clearly. Tell me what’s going on.” Then, because she still seemed so helpless to her terror, “please.”

  “She hid Keegan!” Peren began to weep. “Lady Luna came back from Uraz, and she was determined to get him. She was going to do… horrible things! Things she meant to do to you. Mistress, she wouldn’t let it happen. She arranged to smuggle him out of Lindel for me. She hid him where no one will ever find him!”

  That gave him some pause. “If that’s true, I guess I owe her. But I can’t change things, not for that. But if we die here, we’ll never be able to get him back. Giving her over to the Huduku is the only way we’ll ever see him again.”

  “No,” she gasped between hiccupping sobs. “It’s the one way we’re sure to lose him forever! She couldn’t tell me, in case Lady Luna found a way to get me away from her service. If that happened, I would tell everything. Everyone tells Luna everything. But she could never question the Mistress. She didn’t tell anyone where she sent him.”

  Kaie stopped. For a second, he couldn’t even breathe. “You don’t have any idea? She never let anything slip?”

  Peren shook her head, her words dissolving into nothing more than gasp and sobs. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, hardly aware of doing so.

  “I’ve been trying to convince these people you acted the way you did because you were afraid we would hurt you once she was gone. If they find out you have a reason to protect Autumnsong they actually will hurt you, and I won’t be able to say anything to stop it.”

  Her eyes blinked up at him. He couldn’t tell if she even heard him over her panic.

  He tried to give her an encouraging smile, hoping she would draw some comfort from it and find a way to end her hysterics. “I promised our son I would see him again, and I meant it. I’m going to speak to the Lady.”

  Autumnsong was not given the same privacy Peren was. The rangers managed to build a cell of sorts using the crates of supplies. They kept two armed guards standing on either side at all times. She was given food and water and even taken to the privy a couple times, but each time one of the crates was moved another guard joined the two and waved a sword in the Lady’s face. Kaie found it a little funny, and wondered if the whole show was Judah’s idea.

  He also thought it was extremely appropriate that this woman was going to spend her last few days in a cell not entirely unlike where he spent his first ones. He only hoped she enjoyed it as much as he did.

  It took a bit of convincing to get the guards to move the crates and let him in with her. It took a lot more to get them to step far enough away that they wouldn’t overhear anything. Not one of the soldiers seemed eager to embrace his leadership.

  She gave up her fancy dress on the way to the warehouse, and now she stank of sweat. Her hair was a mess of knots and there wasn’t a bit of her that was clean. Her brown eyes were framed by wrinkles, as were her full lips. She was far from ugly, though. Even with the layer of grime, he would need to be blind to think that. Age was coming on her gracefully. Rather than beat her bloody for it, as he was sorely tempted to do, Kaie leaned against the crates and crossed his arms over his chest. He couldn’t be stupid, not now.

  “I will admit, I’m impressed.”

  If his opening move surprised her, Autumnsong gave no sign of it. Her eyelids didn’t even flutter as she looked up at him from her seat against the far wall of her cell.

  “It’s not often you find a woman who just lost her son displaying such composure. But then, I suppose not everyone cares about their children the way Peren does.”

  He thought he saw her right eyebrow twitch upward, but the reaction was gone before he could be sure. “My son is not lost.”

  Kaie laughed. “Do you think I’m stupid, or is it simply denial? I know you saw the magics, Lady. You’re still wearing the welts from them on your face. Do you think he found some secret immunity to what happened in that house?”

  His words made no impact. “You are mistaken. My son was not in that house.”

  “Oh?” It was a lame question, but she didn’t mock him for it.

  “My son is in Lindel, caring for my estate while I am here.”

  There was no hiding his surprise now. His face gave him away even before his words did. “But he was seen! I heard Vaughan getting herbs for him myself!”

  “A ruse,” she said simply, folding her hands in her lap. “The Empress asked me to take a man into my company and present him as my son.”

  “Who…” He couldn’t even get the question out.

  “A Namer.” If she said the Empress, Kaie couldn’t be more shaken. “The Jorander are led by individuals with magic. It was believed that, if it became public knowledge the Empress was sending a Namer, Jorander would come to Hudukul’s aide. Posing as my son allowed him to identify any of standing in the city who had magic, so that they could be covertly removed from power and dealt with before they could do any damage to our position.”

  Kaie shook his head. “The Huduku fear magic.”

  “As you say. But such claims have been made by many conquered nations. A Namer is always required to ensure the truth of things.” She paused as if she were considering her next words. Kaie didn’t believe it. This woman knew exactly what she was doing. “You do realize the significance of this, correct?”

  “What?”

  “I am not privy to all the secrets of the order, but it is well known that Namers have some awareness of each other.”

  His brows knit. “What do you mean?”

  “They always know when one of theirs dies. It is why they do not fear to walk into even the most dangerous of places to perform their duty. Fear of being made Hollow would never hold a mother from trying to save her child. Knowledge that any such attempt would bring every Namer in Elysium to her doorstep, ripping away the minds of every one of her neighbors and her neighbors’ neighbors is what holds her in place.”

  Kaie let out a slow breath. “You’re saying that they’re coming to Hudukul.”

  She inclined her head in the slightest of nods.

  “How long?”

  “I cannot answer that with any accuracy, but I imagine it will be no more than three months before they come to unleash a horror only one such as you can fathom.”

  He scowled. “Such as me?”

  “Yes.” She paused long enough to climb to her feet. “I know who you are. I admit, it did take me a while. I believed you dead and put you out of my mind years ago. But I will never forget your face. I know you, Kaie Zetowan.”

  He laughed, finally feeling some semblance of control again. “You believe that, don’t you?”

  A tiny wrinkle appeared between her brows. “I do. You might not remember, but we have spoken before, you and I.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard that story.”

  “It is no story. We spoke at len
gth on two occasions. I gained a great deal of insight into your character.”

  “Did you?” Kaie made no attempt to hide his amusement at the statement. She unfolded her hands and pressed her palms flat against her legs, but only for a moment. Then they returned to her lap. He felt a surge of satisfaction. She wasn’t as confident as she wanted him to think.

  “Indeed. I learned that you are not a broken beast. I also learned that you will do anything to protect those you care about.”

  “Mm.” Kaie nodded. “Why did you order the executions? You had to realize it would force Huduku into open revolt.”

  She shook her head and, for one instant, she looked genuinely sad. “It was too late to stop that. Yarin, commander of the Fourth Brigade, he considers Hudukul a conquered city. He was not promoted to Seventh Rit by his stunning military mind, as with the Ninth Rit. His promotion was bought with the mountain of bodies he leaves in his wake. Once he learned of the attack on his men, he would drown the city in blood in order to teach the people their place. I intercepted the report and ordered a small slaughter, in the hopes it would satisfy his need for punishment and avert a significantly larger massacre.”

  Kaie shook his head. “Isn’t that a nice justification? Rather poor work you’ve made of it, huh?”

  “I saw no other alternative. You should understand that situation quite well.”

  “You really think you know me, don’t you? You think we’re alike, somehow. You know that, by now, I’ve spoken to Peren. You think your knowledge of my son’s whereabouts will stay my hand, because it would yours.”

  “I know it will,” Autumnsong answered. “You forced me to do something I found beyond unpalatable and placed yourself in the Namer’s custody, just to protect Peren and her brother. Perhaps you are one of those people who doesn’t care about their children, but that girl will never recover from such a loss. And you will not allow her to be broken.”

  “She’s stronger than you think,” Kaie said causally. “And I care about my son a great deal. I hear you’re to thank for keeping him safe. That’s why I’m giving you the chance to tell me how to find him.”

  This time he was certain he saw the brow lift. “Why would I do that? It is the only thing I have to bargain with.”

  “Because, if you do, I will kill you myself.”

  She stared at him, and her lips pursed. Her hands shook when she unfolded them again. “That is not an especially appealing offer.”

  “It really depends on your perspective, I think.” He kept his tone light, playful. She deserved death. They all did, all the nobles of the empire. Autumnsong protected his son, but that didn’t remove her responsibility. It didn’t release her from his vengeance. But it did mean he didn’t want to kill her himself. But for Keegan, he would.

  “Either way, you are going to die. Either way, you are going to the Huduku. The city screams for the blood of the empire, and I’m not going to stand in front of it for you.”

  She watched him without saying a word, but her emotionless mask was slipping out of place. She held her lower lip under her teeth and her hands were shaking again. She tried to hide both, but he saw them. The Lady Autumnsong was terrified.

  “If I kill you, it will be quick. It will have to be public, of course. Every one of those soldiers out there will have to see it. But I’ll make it as painless as possible. I’ll do my best to leave you with some small measure of dignity. The Huduku won’t be happy it was done for them, but they’ll still take you.

  “If you don’t tell me, and you are alive when they get you, I expect it will be quite slow. After they’re done punishing you for all the wrongs they’ve felt over the last two years, they’ll hang you from the Villain’s Gate. You’ll still be alive. I’m told they’re very good at that. I hear that one man they hung lived for nearly a month, hanging there. I don’t expect you’ll last that long, but either way it will be a hard death. One of hunger, thirst and pain such as you can’t imagine. Compared to that, I think my offer sounds quite appealing. Don’t you agree.”

  She shook her head. “You will not do this.”

  He used his shoulders to push himself off the crates and began moving them to form an exit. “Prepare to be surprised.”

  “We have had this conversation before. Our roles were reversed, but the substance remains unchanged. This will end just as it did before.” Her words were level, but Kaie wasn’t fooled. He could see behind the mask now. “You will not let this happen. You are a good man, Kaie Zetowan.”

  He glanced over his shoulder and flashed a smile. “You’re mistaken, Lady. Kaie Zetowan is dead.”

  Thirty

  The first scouting party Judah sent out tracked the councilor down in less than a week. Kaie couldn’t shake a distrust of the whole situation. The gods never made things that simple. The meeting was to take place when the moon was at its highest point, in the market square. That left a good ten minutes for Kaie worry about the thousand ways it things could go wrong.

  According to the agreement, Kaie was allowed two shields at his back. He chose Judah and Vaughan. He wasn’t sure what he was thinking. A week wasn’t enough time to pull themselves back together. Judah was still limping, and it wasn’t until the doctor lanced the welts that the man’s fever broke. And Vaughan… Kaie suspected the man wanted to forswear the use of magic forever.

  But they were warm bodies at his back. He hoped that would be enough to discourage any need for them to be more. He needed things to go right. He wouldn’t prove himself to Gregor’s rangers until he delivered on a promise or two.

  That was why he was here, out in the open with nothing but the full moon and two questionable bodyguards to keep him from getting his throat slit for his trouble. When he left the relative safety of the warehouse, it seemed enough. But each passing moment chipped at his certainty.

  “Callo admits it: he did not expect to find the one he was meeting would be the boy Kale.”

  Kaie nearly leapt out of his skin. Tou Callo did love his grand entrances. The big man stepped out of the shadows with all his usual confidence, not even bothering to look around the plaza. Maybe he didn’t need to. Mola was with him. Kaie was sure the woman never walked into any situation without being absolutely certain of what awaited her there.

  “You didn’t think the Rit just kept me around to distract Councilor Losen, did you?”

  Callo spat. “Kale will not speak the name of that treacherous Takra in this man’s presence!”

  Kaie smiled bitterly. “I take that to mean the bastard has switched sides.”

  “Switched? No. He remains firmly on his own side, as always. All that has changed is that he is of the opinion that the greatest city is merely a tool to further his own advancement. The bastard tells of all the places fortifications might be gathered, and aides the enemy in setting all the castes higher than his own to the blade. The greatest city grows heavy with the deaths he makes.”

  “How long did it take him to sell you out to the Fourth?”

  Callo laughed darkly. The sound sent a shiver of warning up Kaie’s spine. It was easy enough, thinking the councilor was a kind man. He was one. But he was also a dangerous one.

  “He was already fucking the Seventh Rit’s bed slave in a bed of gold when the first drop of Urazin blood hit the cobblestone. Kale shouldn’t be offended, but this man does wish the Ninth Rit were as willing to share his own bed slave. It might’ve saved a few lives, if the Takra thought he could get all he desired from Gregor Ironfist instead.”

  Kaie forced a smile. “I doubt either of us would be breathing, if Gregor was that sort of man.”

  The councilor shook his head. “Perhaps the boy is right. No matter how this has turned, this man can’t fault the Ninth Rit for his honor. He was a good man, and didn’t deserve such an unclean death.”

  “You heard?”

  “This man saw,” Callo corrected. “He came to speak to the Rit as soon as he heard of the fight that started all this trouble, and found the rooms burnin
g. It is a foul thing, letting a man die that way. Does the boy know the villain responsible?”

  “Yes.” Kaie managed to keep his voice level despite the tightening in his chest. “Sorry about the fire. I couldn’t just leave him there…”

  The big man raised his hand. “Kale doesn’t need to explain. Callo knows the boy cared for his master. He understands.” He paused. “But this is not a night for any more sad talk of departed friends. This man thinks Kale went to some trouble to arrange this with him. He would like to know why he is here.”

  “You told Gregor you could assure his men protection from Huduku forces, if they were willing to fight at your side.”

  Callo eyed him with open consideration. “Yes. This man said such things. But the situation was much different. His people were not being slaughtered by thousands of pale men marching through the greatest city as though they belonged here.”

  “We aren’t a party to any of that. We’re looking to defect, Callo. We wouldn’t risk that by killing any of yours.”

  “An easy thing to say. But this man has often seen a major with the iron fist on his shoulder wearing as much Huduku blood as any others.”

  Kaie’s body went cold. “A major from the Twelfth? The one called Silvertongue?”

  “This man has heard him named such. Does Kaie deny that the major is one of the Ninth Rit’s?”

  There was no point in lying. “No. No, he was one of the Twelfth. As were others I’ve no doubt. Just as Losen was of Hudukul, once.”

  Callo spat again, but when the man turned back his expression was thoughtful. Kaie wasn’t sure if he passed the test, but he wasn’t failing. Yet. “This man will give the boy his point. But he does not think this man will believe those words just because they are spoken, does he?”

  “No,” Kaie said. “I don’t. And you’re right, I’ve got no words that will prove he’s not one of ours. So, instead of wasting my breath, I thought I might try some action instead. Want to see?”

  The councilor laughed heartily, the boom of it filling the empty plaza. The hairs on Kaie’s arms rose. The noise was sure to draw the attention of the Fourth. But Callo seemed unconcerned.